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Municipal Reporter
Harare City Council is set to terminate all joint venture agreements whose implementation has not taken off the ground. Some of the projects under the spotlight are the upgrading of Rufaro Stadium, refurbishment of Harare Quarry, capitalisation of the city’s farms and the development of Mupedzanhamo Phase Two.

According to Business Committee minutes of February 27 this year, councillors noted with concern the slow and at times no implementation at all of joint venture projects that had been approved and signed with various partners.

“The committee also expressed concern that status reports had not been submitted to the committee. Some of the projects were critical to service delivery hence the implementation of such projects could not be delayed any longer.

“The committee singled out the following projects among others as critical; quarry refurbishment, upgrading of Rufaro, upgrading of farms, the development of a Civic Centre, the development of Mupedzanhamo Phase two and tasked the town clerk to submit status reports on the implementation of these projects,” read part of the minutes.

The committee said projects which have not started for a long time should be terminated immediately.

Last year Savanna expressed their interest in revamping Rufaro Stadium and transforming it into a modern sports ground, with state-of the art facilities.

Savanna pledged to invest $10 million into the deal, which would result in a name change from Rufaro Stadium to Pacific Rufaro Stadium, among a host of changes at one of the country’s premier football grounds.

Savanna said it would invest $100 000 into the drafting of a sustainable business plan.

The tobacco processing concern would give HCC, the owner of the stadium, $100 000 for the naming rights annually.

In their presentation, Savanna told councillors at the committee meeting that the stadium would have an enclosed and secure parking area with a new parking bay constructed.

The deal would enable football fans to buy match tickets online in advance through mobile money such as Ecocash, One Wallet or Telecash, and they could even be allowed to swipe using their bank cards at the entrance.

The proposed deal would also see bucket seats being installed in the stadium. Another joint venture project is the textile factory with Ningbo Baitai of China near High Glen Shopping Mall.