RUFARO Stadium will not be confined to football alone — as the football family wants to believe — but should be extended to other activities including music.
This was revealed by the mayor of the City of Harare Jacob Mafume, who made it clear that apart from providing services the stadium was a business venture for the city of Harare.
As a result, said Mafume, they have constructed an immovable stage within the facility for musicians to hold their shows whenever they feel like doing.
"Rufaro will also be used for music, and other activities. As you can see, we are constructing a stage near where we have set up small and medium shops. This is because some of our musicians cannot afford the upmarket live performing stages of these days and as such we are giving them a stage to perform from," said Mafume.
The mayor jokingly added, "The Zimdancehall boys will have a safe, free and protected environment to jump as high as they can on a concrete stage which they cannot destroy ."
Already business is booming at Rufaro Stadium through the $1 parking fee charge for each car parked during Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches.
Rufaro is being used as the home ground for Harare's PSL teams, Caps United, Dynamos, Herentals, and in some cases for Yadah, who also have their own Heart Stadium.
Although not yet fully completed Mafume says they want to minimise costs to less than US$3 million when renovations are finally completed.
"Our finance people will look at how much we have used so far. Our aim is not to go above the US$3 million and not the big figures that people have been throwing around. This is ratepayers money and we cannot afford to overspend it," said Mafume.
Mafume revealed that they have been and are using council employees to do most of the job at Rufaro as they have the required expertise within their workforce.
The opening of Rufaro Stadium coincided with the closure of the National Sports Stadium (NSS) giving the Harare teams another alternative closer-to-home venue.
Prior to the reopening of Rufaro Stadium, and during the closure of the NSS, Caps United were using Bata Stadium in Gweru as their home ground while Dynamos were using Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo.
Herentals was sharing Mandava Stadium with FC Platinum while Yadah opted for nearer Baobab Stadium in the rural areas of Mhondoro-Ngezi.