Welcome to Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex — once one of the best sporting facilities in the country that has turned into a white elephant.
The multi-million dollar sport facility was built for the sixth All Africa Games hosted by Zimbabwe in 1995, but it seems it was money put to waste as the facility has been neglected since the continental games came and went.
The government also built two-hockey stadia — Magamba and Khumalo and Mbare netball complex specifically for the games, which are also crumbling.
The facilities, property of government but run by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), have never been given attention and have started to disintegrate.
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The big electric scoreboard at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex stopped ticking at 12:36, but the date and the year is not known, which might mean that it is the same date that things started falling apart at the giant complex.
The little rains that have been received so far and accumulated have turned green with algae in the pool which has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
On Tuesday last week a man who was enjoying his smoke sat by the door step of the Aquatic Complex office.
Inside was a gentleman who claimed to be “in charge” of the white elephant. The door to his office was inscribed “Ministry of Education, Sport Arts and Culture Chitungwiza District”.
Despite the two’s presence, what was unmistakable was that the once glamourous swimming facility was crumbling right in front of their eyes. The facility has also been at the mercy of vandals.
The giant Chitungwiza complex has turned into ruins facing wholesale abuse 16 years after its construction. It has now been turned into an entertainment venue for musical shows and parties.
Apart from the swimming pool, there are also grounds for indoor hockey and handball at the complex but these are almost overgrown with shrubs and grass.
Part of the complex has also been converted into a “sports bar”.
But whoever is responsible for the complex must remember that swimming sensation Kirsty Coventry cut her teeth at the complex setting several national records which are still to be broken.
The sorry state of the complex could be one of the reasons why the world champion opted to change her base to South Africa, as there are better training facilities there.
The world champion used to train at the big pool before relocating to the United States in 2001.
When government built the Aquatic Complex, then one of the best water-sports facilities on the continent, it said the complex would benefit the surrounding areas.
It was also envisaged swimming clubs would be formed in Chitungwiza and the sport introduced in surrounding schools.
But 16 years after the games, no swimming club has been formed and national swimming events are being held at Les Brown in the capital.
The Chitungwiza complex reflects neglect by responsible authorities.
