The official ground breaking ceremony for the renovation project
of Zimbabwe National Sports Stadium has been held in the country's
capital city of Harare.
Zhang Xianyi, Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe, said at the
ceremony Wednesday that the China-donated stadium has witnessed the
development of traditional friendship between the two countries in
the past 20 years.
The stadium covering an area of 17 hectares and accommodating
60,000 spectators have seen many international and local sports
games as well as important gatherings since it was built and
financed by the Chinese government in 1987.
The renovation is expected to be completed in 20 months with a
cost of US$5.8 million, which is disbursed with the previous grant
provided by the Chinese government to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe's Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban
Development Ignatius Chombo said the maintenance project is
expected to enhance the utility and functionality of the stadium,
as well as improving on its aesthetics. The maintenance works are
not structural as the stadium was solidly built, he added.
(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2006)
