The Harare City Council did nothing but pretty up Rufaro Stadium with shallow fixes, just like adding makeup to hide flaws. Mayor Jacob Mafume bragged about the place last year after it reopened, claiming it ranked among the best fields in Zimbabwe. He even compared the grass to what you might see at Spain's famous Santiago Bernabeu. The mayor talked up how green and lush the stadium looked when they finally opened the big structure located in Mbare.
Fast-forward less than twelve months, and everything falls apart as the quick fixes start showing their true colors. Four games have happened there during an eight-day stretch since the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League started up last week. Rain turns parts of the field into a soggy mess, with thick mud patches across the playing surface. This reality totally contradicts what Mafume promised about installing proper drainage systems during the renovation work.
Mafume recently spoke at a council meeting and kept hyping up the changes at Rufaro, saying they wanted international soccer matches back in Mbare. He claimed Harare puts more money into sports than anyone else in the country and said something happens every weekend there. The mayor mentioned plans for improving Rufaro Stadium, Gwanzura Stadium, and many other city venues. He expressed happiness about having six teams playing in the Premier Soccer League.
People wonder if Rufaro can handle multiple matches as the season just begins. Dynamos, CAPS United, ZPC Kariba, and Herentals all play home games there because work at the National Sports Stadium remains unfinished. The stadium falls way short of meeting international match standards despite all the big talk. Mafume tricked soccer fans through a deal with Henrietta Rushwaya's Okima Plastics that only added bucket seats to a small section of the facility.
Everyone worries about how long these improvements will last and whether the stadium can withstand a complete football season, let alone host games from other countries. Zimbabwe suffers from poor sports facilities, forcing teams to compete outside the country. The problem will likely grow worse because officials show little interest in fixing these terrible conditions.
Fast-forward less than twelve months, and everything falls apart as the quick fixes start showing their true colors. Four games have happened there during an eight-day stretch since the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League started up last week. Rain turns parts of the field into a soggy mess, with thick mud patches across the playing surface. This reality totally contradicts what Mafume promised about installing proper drainage systems during the renovation work.
Mafume recently spoke at a council meeting and kept hyping up the changes at Rufaro, saying they wanted international soccer matches back in Mbare. He claimed Harare puts more money into sports than anyone else in the country and said something happens every weekend there. The mayor mentioned plans for improving Rufaro Stadium, Gwanzura Stadium, and many other city venues. He expressed happiness about having six teams playing in the Premier Soccer League.
People wonder if Rufaro can handle multiple matches as the season just begins. Dynamos, CAPS United, ZPC Kariba, and Herentals all play home games there because work at the National Sports Stadium remains unfinished. The stadium falls way short of meeting international match standards despite all the big talk. Mafume tricked soccer fans through a deal with Henrietta Rushwaya's Okima Plastics that only added bucket seats to a small section of the facility.
Everyone worries about how long these improvements will last and whether the stadium can withstand a complete football season, let alone host games from other countries. Zimbabwe suffers from poor sports facilities, forcing teams to compete outside the country. The problem will likely grow worse because officials show little interest in fixing these terrible conditions.
