ZVISHAVANE- Despite demands by the Zvishavane community to use council-owned Mandava Stadium for social sporting activities, it has since emerged that this cannot be possible as the local authority has given Mimosa Mining Company a 25-year lease to take charge of the refurbished recreational facility.

Dwellers in the mining town were left in a fix after Mimosa Mine-owned soccer side, FC Platinum started using Mandava Stadium following their promotion into the elite Premier Soccer League in the year 2011. Since then, members of the community were left with no other alternative for social sporting activities as the only available council-owned Maglas B Arena is now in a dilapidated state due to neglect.

As a result of the predicament facing the residents, Zishavane Town Council vice-chairperson Charity Mundoka said that they are in the process of constructing another stadium.

“We know the shortage of sporting facilities in Zvishavane, but as we speak, we are in the process of constructing a stadium in Highlands. Mandava stadium was leased to FC Platinum for 25 years, ” Mundoka told one local publication on the sidelines of a seminar held at Lions Club that was organised by Nyasha Nyatondo of Poverty Reduction Forum Trust (PRFT) and Respect Tsvanhu of Farming Communities Education Trust (FACET) on Wednesday.

The two organizations are carrying out assessments in Bulawayo, Zvishavane and Bikita on ways to reduce poverty in the country.

Formed in 2008 with a mission to influence and formulate proper policies for sustainable development, PRFT is conducting civil society voluntary local review consultations among councils.

Zwnews