Government has thanked Sakunda Holdings for contributing US$12.5 million towards the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium in Harare, allowing international football to return to Zimbabwe for the first time in nearly five years.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said the upgraded stadium is now one of the best arenas in Africa, a remarkable turnaround for a facility that had been condemned for nearly half a decade but is now back in use following private-sector intervention.

The giant Harare stadium has been granted CAF Category 3 approval following a technical inspection and substantial rehabilitation works, clearing the way for the facility to host a wide range of major international matches.

The Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Lieutenant-General (Retired) Anselem Sanyatwe, said: “The Ministry also wishes to place on record its profound appreciation to Sakunda Holdings for its invaluable support towards the upgrading and modernisation of the National Sports Stadium.”

The Minister added that Sakunda’s contribution to the pitch and seating had “substantially enhanced the functionality, aesthetics and overall spectator experience” at the facility.

Significantly, CAF rated the rehabilitated pitch among the best in Africa — another powerful endorsement of Sakunda’s contribution.

Sakunda Holdings committed approximately US$12.5 million towards the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium.

The intervention facilitated the installation of bucket seats, improvements to changing rooms and ablution facilities, upgrades to spectator and VIP areas, and the rehabilitation of the main playing pitch.

The Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture had received a quotation of up to US$17 million for the installation of bucket seats alone. Sakunda’s decision to support the wider refurbishment programme substantially reduced the financial burden on Government while allowing the project to address several of the stadium’s most pressing deficiencies.

Approximately US$9.7 million was spent on the installation of the seats and associated works, while about US$1.2 million was invested in the rehabilitation of the pitch.

The result is a dramatically improved national sporting facility capable of meeting the requirements of continental football.

Zimbabwe’s national teams had been without a properly homologated home venue for FIFA-sanctioned international matches for close to five years. The absence of the NSS meant that important fixtures had to be played outside the country, depriving Zimbabwe of the atmosphere and home advantage that come with playing before its own supporters.

It also imposed additional costs on football authorities, players, supporters and the wider sporting ecosystem.

Sakunda’s financial injection means Zimbabwe has regained a venue capable of hosting CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup group-stage and quarter-final matches, as well as Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup qualifiers and other Category 3 competitions.

The refurbished stadium now has 55,000 standard seats, alongside 4,000 VIP seats, 980 VVIP seats, 20 Presidential seats and 92 media seats and tables.

The works also included a retractable players’ tunnel, four sets of movable dugouts, and a stadium-wide seat and row numbering system.

The completed project was handed over to Government on 19 May 2026.