Excitement in Victoria Falls over new multipurpose cricket stadium

VICTORIA FALLS residents are buzzing with excitement about the construction of a multi-purpose cricket stadium on Masuwe state land.

They see this development as a catalyst for expanding the resort city’s economy and creating much-needed job opportunities.

The 10 000-seater international cricket stadium, spearheaded by Zimbabwe Cricket, is a beacon of hope.

Residents view it not only as a source of local pride, but also as a springboard for job creation through the growth of sports tourism.

President Mnangagwa officially laid the foundation for the stadium last Thursday, highlighting the potential for job creation during construction and beyond.

This multi-purpose facility will cater to various sports, including soccer, rugby and tennis. Additionally, it will boast amenities like five-star hospitality and health facilities, attracting a wider range of visitors.

For Victoria Falls, a city without a top-flight club in any sport due to a lack of proper facilities, this stadium represents a historic milestone.

“We appreciate the support that we get from the local communities in Victoria Falls, Hwange and the surrounding areas. Jobs will be created for local communities. We want to work with you. Each Chief will be asked to bring his people for employment,” said Minister Rwodzi.

Victoria Falls City Mayor Councillor Prince Thuso Moyo welcomed the project.

“Groundbreaking of the new International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls is an exciting development for our city.

It will put Victoria Falls on the map as a premier sports tourism destination and create new economic opportunities for our community.

“This stadium will not only attract international cricket matches and tournaments but also spur the growth of grassroots sports participation and development in Victoria Falls. It will create training and job opportunities for our youth, helping to address unemployment in the region,” said Clr Moyo.

The upcoming multi-purpose stadium in Victoria Falls transcends the dominion of cricket. Envisioned as a sprawling complex, it will encompass a sports arena, business district, medical facilities and even a golf course. This ambitious project promises to elevate the city’s profile on multiple fronts.

Job creation is a major focus. The mayor emphasised the potential for economic growth through both sports and medical tourism, with careful planning and community involvement being crucial for ensuring everyone benefits.

Residents share enthusiasm. Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association chair, Kelvin Moyo, expressed elation about the job opportunities the project presents. He encouraged residents to actively pursue these openings.

“We are grateful that our visibility as a Tourist destination is being amplified by befitting infrastructural development. This will mean more employment through sport tourism and continued tourist arrivals in our destination. We also expect our youths to get something to do and keep them away from drugs and substance abuse.

“This is also a significant milestone towards the fulfilment of the US $5 billion economy by 2025 that will improve the locals’ livelihood to upper middle-income economy. This will result in the development of grassroots sport and that is inevitable as we should grow a variety of sports codes to accommodate our youths as they complement the new curriculum,” said Mr Moyo.

The tourism industry players have also said the cricket stadium will widen products although they said more needs to be done in terms of making sure existing businesses benefit through tax incentives that are offered in the Special Economic Zone.

Tourism executive Barbara Murasiranwa-Hughes said the development is welcome.

“This is the beginning of a new era and a special kind of tourism in our country -sports tourism. It introduces another aspect of sports tourism that we had not seriously tapped into - We just pray that the current business operators will also get a chance to enjoy the special economic zone benefits and they have hung on through thick and thin all these years and in that regard we wish the whole of Victoria Falls could be made a special economic zone. We pray these developments continue and that we have all our roads fixed,” she said. -@ncubeleon

Source: Excitement in Victoria Falls over new multipurpose cricket stadium (01/06/24)