Masvingo — Construction of the 40 000-seater soccer stadium in Masvingo ahead of the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa, has not yet begun as the Government is still reviewing plans for the project.

Work on the stadium - that was supposed to be completed before the start of the 2010 tournament - has not yet started almost six months after the groundbreaking ceremony conducted by the Minster of Education, Sport and Culture Cde Aeneas Chigwedere at the site.

Then, Cde Chigwedere announced that Government had already released $7 trillion for the ambitious project for work to start immediately.

The stadium was supposed to cost US$10 million and was to be built on an open area between the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway and the Old Great Zimbabwe monuments Road.

Masvingo Governor Cde Willard Chiwewe yesterday said Government was reviewing plans for the stadium and work would start after the review.

Cde Chiwewe said there seemed to be some hitches in implementing the project among the three Government ministries involved.

"It's true that there was no movement in terms of work on the project and the project is now being reviewed by Cabinet and once the review process is completed work can then start on the stadium which will be of immense benefit to Masvingo," said Cde Chiwewe.

He, however, dismissed reports that the delay in rolling out the project was due to lack of funds stressing that there were other undisclosed challenges.

"I cannot say the delay is to do with funds but there must be other challenges affecting the project that can best be solved by the tripartite Government ministries involved in the project," said Cde Chiwewe, without elaborating.

The Ministries involved are those of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Education, Sport and Culture and Finance. Cde Chiwewe said the provincial leadership was still very much interested in the project and would keep pressing for work to begin.

The proposed stadium was expected to be part of a multi-disciplinary sports complex that would spearhead sports development in Masvingo well beyond the 2010 World Cup Soccer finals.

Government has invited the private sector in Masvingo to enter into partnership with it in the construction of the stadium.

The private sector in Masvingo has been criticised for lack of seriousness in preparing for the 2010 soccer showcase as the province could greatly benefit through increased tourist arrivals during the finals because of its proximity to South Africa.