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Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
TSHOLOTSHO Stadium constructors are expected to move to the site next week with officials still confident of meeting the June deadline. An engineer from one of the construction companies, Brian Mukoyi, said his company will move to the site soon after being presented with the design plan which is being done by officials from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.

“Once the designing aspect is done, we will move in with all our equipment.

“We are ready for the job and still remain confident that we will meet the agreed deadline,” said Mukoyi, an engineer with civil construction giant J R Goddard Construction.

Also roped in for the project is Mota-Engil. Mota-Engil is a Portuguese industrial conglomerate.

Its principal activities include civil engineering and construction of infrastructure including bridges, dams, industrial buildings, schools, chimneys and roads.

The company has operations in Europe, Africa and America.

An official from the Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development Ministry, Edward Njoma said the topographical survey of the site has been done and by mid next week, they expect to have completed the actual designing of the stadium to ZIFA, Caf and Fifa expected standards.

Chief Civil engineer Njoma said once done, they will then hand over the drawing to the constructors.

“The topographical survey is done and dusted, what we are doing now is the actual designing of the stadium which we expect to be done with by Wednesday,” said Njoma.

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo recently announced that the construction of the stadium meets the national policy planning objective and the Government has since taken over.

Prof Moyo said this when he toured the stadium site early this month. Tsholotsho South Member of Parliament, Zenzo Sibanda, last week told our sister paper, The Sunday News that their aspiration was to have a modern football facility in Tsholotsho and the coming in of government was going to transform that dream into reality.

“I’m really grateful the Government is taking over the construction of Tsholotsho Stadium. Our dream is to have a state-of-the-art football facility, the first of its kind in a rural area.

“This is now going to become a reality. The people must unite, we are grateful to everyone who has played a part,’’ said Sibanda.

He said they were fully indebted to Prof Moyo.

President Mugabe is expected to officially open Tsholotsho Stadium upon its completion in June.

Tsholotsho Football Club, who start their maiden campaign in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with an away clash to Harare City before playing host to Highlanders in Bulawayo, will move into the new facility during the second half of the season.