Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume says close to US$ 2 million is needed to complete ongoing renovations at Rufaro stadium despite a lease deal with Scottland.
Rufaro Stadium, the ceremonial home of football, was opened last year for local Premier Soccer League games after being inactive for five years.
However, despite the touch-ups, the venue still does not meet international standards to host CAF-approved games.
The stadium is yet to have bucket seats fitted around throughout all terraces, electronic turnstiles are yet to be installed and a standard media room is yet to be set up, among other things.
"What we have used to renovate Rufaro stadium to get to where it is, close to US$ 1 million, but of course it's not the exact figure.
"For us to complete renovations and meet international standards, it will be close to US$ 2 million needed.
"We have to build a B arena, expand the car park, we needed to put flood lights, electronic turnstiles and fitting bucket seats on all the seating terraces," said Mafume in an interview.
Last week, after Harare City Council revealed it had entered a new leasing deal with gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya's Scottland FC.
Mafume claimed the lease deal has nothing much to do with money, rather it's an agreement which will see the Mabvuku-based side assisting with one or two needs on the ongoing renovations.
He highlighted that the Scottland lease deal is a new model the council is taking with all Premier Soccer League clubs which use the venue as a home ground, including CAPS United and Dynamos.
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"Rufaro stadium is leased to four teams, Dynamos, CAPS United, Herentals and Scottland.
"What we have done is that this lease should be something which benefits both sides," he said.
Mafume added, "For instance Dynamos has a long lease signed many years ago, which doesn't benefit the facility.
"So what we agreed on as council is that all teams using the facility must tell us what they can do for the improvement and maintenance of the stadium.
"Hence, we are putting all this on paper, Scottland being the first team, we will do the same with Dynamos, CAPS United and Herentals.
"Signing a lease deal with Scottland does not give them 100 % power on the facility like it is said on social media, but it was just a formal lease agreement, which is more formal as compared to the running ones we have with these other three teams.
"Scottland is going to assist us with one or two needs for ongoing renovations, and these other teams must also do the same."
