CCEZ refurbishes Mbare swimming pool

Bridget Mabanda

The Chamber of Chinese Enterprises Zimbabwe (CCEZ) handed over George Hartley Swimming Pool, which is popularly referred to as Mbare Swimming Pool, after fully refurbishing it.

CCEZ vice chairperson, Shanel Liu said for the pool to be where it is right now, they poured a total of US$52 000, excluding administrative costs.

She said refurbishment of the recreational facility is part of the Chamber’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).

“This commitment has seen us take up this life-changing project to spruce up Mbare Swimming Pool at a cost of US$52 000.

CCEZ vice chairperson Shanel Liu cuts the ribbon to officially open the George Hartley Swimming Pool

“We are grateful to partner with the City of Harare and Box National Incorporated in the rehabilitation of this important recreation facility which had been closed for over three years,” she said.

She said that the Chamber understands that the swimming pool serves as community hub for sports, recreation and leisure hence they did not hesitate to renovate it.

‘‘The importance of this swimming pool should never be underestimated as it is not only about recreation but is also a facility that will keep the youths positively engaged off the streets.

“As they say an ‘idle mind is the devil’s playing ground’, we hope to ensure that the youths in Mbare will now have a healthy pass time which will keep them well clear of the menace of drugs and other vices,” she said.

The guest of Honour, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the Chinese Chamber refurbished the facility freely without exchange of anything like a piece of land.

Mayor Jacob Mafume, second from right, and the CCEZ vice chair, right, touring the facility

“We should applaud such endeavours; we should appreciate as a city when businesses give back to the community.

“A lot of our businesspeople believe they need a piece of land or something to help the city develop but it is good that the city is built by its businesspeople,” he said.

Mbare Ward 12 Councillor, Patson Mangwiro-Chikwaka also thanked the Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe on Mbare George Hartley Swimming Pool re-opening after renovations.

“I am a proud councillor. For the past years, the area was looking like a bush, and I was even in doubt that the pool will function again. But the Chamber worked so hard for the pool to be functional,” he said.

Vincent Munyeza, who is a certified Pool Operator and Instructor said modern technology called “High-Rate Sand Filter”, which is now being used at the Mbare Swimming Pool, has skimmer boxes that trap dust and leave before they sink at the bottom of the pool.

“Dirt is sucked in the filtration plant, goes through tanks and those tanks have got a unique type of sand designed to trap any dirt that gets into the pool,” he said.

He said after two-three days they do a back wash.

The Mbare Swimming Pool, like all other council-run pools across the country, charges US$1 for children and US$2 for adults.