By Fanuel Chinowaita
MUTARE, 9 March 2026– Mutare City Council has clarified the status of renovations at Sakubva Stadium following a letter by a local football promoter seeking government intervention to allow the province’s Premier Soccer League side to use the facility.
The letter was written by Donald Manhende of Winning Goal Promotions to Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Misheck Mugadza, requesting assistance in engaging the city council over the use of Sakubva Stadium by Manica Diamonds F.C.
In the letter, Manhende appealed to the minister to intervene on behalf of football supporters in Mutare.
“As soccer grouping known as Winning Goal Promotions we are hereby writing to you on behalf of all soccer loving community in the city of Mutare to appreciate the leadership you have rendered to us as a city and province,” wrote Manhende.
He further said the group was seeking the minister’s intervention regarding the stalled renovations at Sakubva Stadium.
“As Winning Goal Promotions we are hereby pleading for help from your Honourable office in reaching out to the local authority Mutare City Council in regards to the renovation of Sakubva Stadium,” he wrote.
Manhende added that they had been informed that renovations would resume in June and requested that Manica Diamonds be allowed to use the stadium before works begin.
“We are reliably informed that renovations are set to resume in June. May your Honourable office request the council via the town clerk to allow our sole Manicaland premiership an exemption to play their home games at Sakubva Stadium pending the resumption of the renovations,” he wrote.
However, Mutare Town Clerk Blessing Chafesuka said the renovations are expected to start earlier than June once bucket seats arrive in the city.
“Renovations are not starting in June but rather earlier. We expect delivery of bucket seats end of March or beginning of April and soon after works will start,” said Chafesuka.
He said the city council had already engaged Manica Diamonds over the issue and informed them of the pending developments at the stadium.
“I invited Manica Diamonds for a meeting over Sakubva Stadium and I told them of the pending renovations. I also advised them that we had a fire breakout which affected part of the changing rooms,” he said.
Chafesuka said council now plans to construct completely new and improved changing rooms as a long-term solution.
According to the town clerk, Manica Diamonds had earlier requested to use the stadium before renovations start and council had not rejected the proposal.
“Manica Diamonds made a request to use the stadium before renovations start and I have no problems with that as long as Manica Diamonds will fund the required renovations on the understanding that renovations will start once bucket seats are in Mutare,” he said.
He added that the club had suggested that installation of bucket seats be done in phases while matches continue, but the proposal was rejected by the Zimbabwe Football Association.
“They proposed that bucket seats installation be done in phases and that games be played coexisting with renovations. Zifa said no,” Chafesuka said.
He said council had only indicated that the stadium could be used by the club up to the time renovations begin.
“So if they want to use it, we did not turn down that proposal. We only said this stadium is available to you up to the day we start installations,” he said.
Sakubva Stadium is Mutare’s main football venue and is earmarked for refurbishment as part of broader efforts to improve football infrastructure in the country.