Harare City Councilors have raised concerns over the decision by Harare City Football Club (Harare City FC) to hire private grounds for their home games, despite the availability of council-owned sports facilities across the city.
The councilors are questioning why the club, which is funded by the municipality, continues to spend money on rented venues instead of utilizing council properties that could serve the same purpose.
Harare City FC, known as the “Sunshine Boys,” has been renting private venues for their home matches, often citing reasons such as better playing conditions and maintenance standards.
However, councilors argue that this is an unnecessary expenditure given the city’s ownership of several grounds, including Rufaro Stadium, Gwanzura Stadium, and other community sports fields that could be upgraded to meet the club’s needs.
Councilor David Moyo expressed frustration over the club’s spending, stating, “It makes no sense for the club to hire grounds when the council has facilities that are underutilized or, in some cases, neglected.
This not only puts a strain on the council’s finances but also sends a message that our grounds are not good enough.
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Harare City FC’s reliance on rented grounds has come under scrutiny as the city faces significant financial challenges, including service delivery backlogs, uncollected refuse, and a deteriorating water supply system.
The cost of hiring venues for each home game adds up, drawing criticism that the money could be better spent on improving council-owned facilities that could benefit not only the football club but also the wider community.
Many councilors are now calling for immediate steps to rehabilitate council-owned stadiums, which have fallen into disrepair due to years of neglect and lack of investment.
Rufaro Stadium, once the pride of Harare, has been out of action for several seasons, with work to bring it up to modern standards moving at a sluggish pace.
Gwanzura Stadium has also been idle, further contributing to the shortage of quality football venues in the city.
