The government’s promise to leave no one and no place behind is coming to fruition. Keeping this promise, the government plans to build a modern cricket stadium in the Masuwe Special Economic Zone for Tourism in Victoria Falls.
Until now, Zimbabweans have only seen international cricket matches in Harare and Bulawayo, but this will change. The new cricket stadium is planned to host the 2026 and 2027 Cricket World Cup along with South Africa and Namibia.
This news was shared in the weekly post cabinet brief. Zimbabwe Cricket has been given 10 hectares of land to build the stadium and related facilities in the Masuwe Special Economic Zone for Tourism in Victoria Falls.
His Excellency, President Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa will lay the foundation stone to start the construction of the stadium. The government aims to achieve a US$5 billion tourism industry by 2025, and this stadium is part of that plan. Tourism is the third largest contributor to Zimbabwe’s GDP, after mining and agriculture, making up 12% of it.
President Mnangagwa’s priority is economic development, aligned with Vision 2030’s goals for national growth and prosperity. The Cricket stadium project is earmarked to contribute towards the US$5 billion Tourism and Hospitality Industry by 2025, as well as the development and expansion of sports infrastructure in the country.
Building the cricket stadium and other facilities will create training and job opportunities for people in Victoria Falls.
The project comes at a critical time, as CCC-led councils have failed the nation by allowing sporting facilities to fall into disrepair due to their incompetence and lack of interest in maintaining stadiums. Most stadiums, owned or administered by councils, have been neglected and left to deteriorate, with some even being converted into car parks. Gwanzura and Chibuku stadiums are prime examples of this neglect.
The government has launched various initiatives to revive tourism after Covid-19. The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has been promoting local tourism with campaigns like #Zimbho #Uripi, encouraging locals to visit Zimbabwean destinations. Last year, more locals visited tourist spots thanks to these campaigns.
The First Family, led by President Mnangagwa, also visited Nyanga in Manicaland province to show their support for local tourism.
Under the Integrated Tourism Resort initiative, sustainable tourism will be promoted in line with United Nations guidelines. The resort town’s tourism businesses are expected to blend well with the natural environment. This stadium is another major project by the Second Republic.
The goal is to ensure everyone benefits as President Mnangagwa works towards his vision of Zimbabwe becoming an Upper Middle-Income Society by 2030. As the world recovers from Covid-19, Zimbabwe must take positive steps to meet its tourism industry goals.
Achieving a US$5 billion industry by 2025 is possible.
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