Harare misses another deadline on Rufaro Stadium r...

Harare misses another deadline on Rufaro Stadium re-opening

Philemon Jambaya

They say lies have short legs and it seems this is the situation with Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume and the Harare City Council as they have since missed yet another deadline they had set for themselves at Rufaro Stadium.

Two weeks ago, Harare Mayor Mafume spoke with conviction that he will officially open the ceremonial home of Zimbabwean football on July 24.

The day came and passed but it seems Mafume and company are singing the blues as the 30 000-seater Rufaro Stadium is still undergoing massive renovations.

The ceremonial home of Zimbabwean football is in almost the same state as it was on July 14.

Heaps of rubble have now become a common feature in the iconic stadium and the Harare City Council has given yet another promise.

“We are at the stage where we are about to open it, the pitch is ready and we are about to draw the lines. The changing rooms have been expanded, it’s going to have 16 showers for all the players to be able to shower at the same time. There will be bucket or individual seats which will be put in phases. There’s going to be a media room,” said Mafume.

Just like his words, the turf looks greener, but it does not tell the complete story as the toilets and the changing rooms are yet to be worked on.

At the same time, the trenches on either side of the pitch are yet to be filled, with the rubble still uncleared.