Emily Jesaya, the Deputy Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts, and Culture, said that the Chahwanda Stadium under construction in Kwekwe will host international football matches.
The 10,000-seater stadium is being built by Walter Magaya in partnership with his business associate, Shepherd Chahwanda.
Magaya, the founder of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries and owner of Yadah Football Club in the Premier Soccer League, spoke about the project’s progress after a tour with Jesaya on Tuesday. 
Jesaya praised the promoters for their commitment to advancing sports infrastructure in Zimbabwe. She said:
<blockquote>
I’m excited to be here, and to see the amazing work that is being done by the private sector in an effort to develop sports in the country. As I was coming down here, I didn’t think I would see something of high standards like this.
After touring I can safely say this stadium is one of the facilities that will host international games because they have shown me that they are obliging to the standards required by CAF [Confederation of African Football].
</blockquote>
Magaya said they are aiming to complete the project by the end of January, in time for the start of the 2025 domestic premier league season.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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A new stadium is being built in Kwekwe called Chahwanda Stadium, with a seating capacity of 10,000. The stadium will host international football matches. The stadium is being built by Walter Magaya and Shepherd Chahwanda. They are working hard to complete the stadium by January for the 2025 domestic premier league season. Deputy Minister of Sports, Emily Jesaya, praised the promoters for their commitment to develop sports infrastructure in Zimbabwe. She was impressed by the high standards of the stadium. This will be a great venue for international games.

Chahwanda Stadium To Host International Matches, Says Deputy Sports Minister

Harare-based cleric Walter Magaya said that he has invested more than US$25 million to aid the development of sport in the country.
Magaya, who founded Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries and owns Yadah Football Club in the Premier Soccer League, is constructing a 10,000-seater stadium in Kwekwe in partnership with his business associate Shepherd Chahwanda.
Deputy Sports Minister Emily Jesaya toured the Chahwanda Stadium with Magaya on Tuesday to get an appreciation of the project.
Speaking during the tour, Magaya who aspires to become the next Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president, said (via <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/sport/article/200036095/magaya-makes-big-pledge">NewsDay</a>):
<blockquote>
What I want to leave is a legacy. I want a situation whereby, many years later, like what is happening with the Gwanzura Brothers where people still speak about them after they built a stadium in the 60s.
What I’m trying to do, whether I will be the ZIFA president or not, I don’t care… what I care about is leaving a legacy which will make people speak about this even 100 years later when I’m gone that there was a man who thought of people more than himself.
The money that I have used here is enough to buy myself a helicopter or a small private jet. But I’m not thinking about myself, I’m thinking about the next generation of what they can benefit from what I’m doing here.
</blockquote>
Magaya said that Chahwanda Stadium will be a “magnified and transformed version” of The Heart Stadium in Waterfalls, Harare.
He has set a target to complete the project by the end of January 2025, in time for the start of the next domestic premier league season.
The successful completion of the project could see the return of premier league football to Kwekwe, a city that was once home to famous clubs such as Lancashire Steel, ZISCO Steel, and Kwekwe Cables.
A local team, Kwekwe United, won promotion to the PSL and could be the first to use Chahwanda Stadium — The Heart Main Arena — as its home ground next season.
Kwekwe-based Hardrock FC, owned by Chahwanda, will be playing in the ZIFA Central Region Soccer League next season and will also use the stadium for its home matches.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Walter Magaya, a Zimbabwean cleric, is building a stadium for sports in Kwekwe with his own money. He wants to be remembered for helping people, not for having a lot of money. The stadium will be ready by 2025 and bring soccer back to Kwekwe. Teams like Kwekwe United and Hardrock FC will play there. Magaya hopes his legacy will be remembered for many years, just like famous people who built a stadium in the 60s. He wants to help the next generation.

I Want People To Remember Me 100 Years From Now, Says Magaya

Harare-based preacher Walter Magaya has begun constructing a 10,000-seater stadium in Kwekwe, Midlands Province, designed to meet the Confederation of African Football’s standards.
The facility, named The Heart Main Stadium, will be officially named Chahwanda Stadium after Magaya’s business associate, Shepherd Chahwanda, who is the project’s main funder. Said Magaya:
<blockquote>
It will have all CAF requirements embedded in it. It is being constructed at the epicenter of the country in Kwekwe where it is envisaged to benefit all Premier Soccer League clubs and national teams.
</blockquote>
Both Magaya and Chahwanda want the stadium to be completed before the start of the domestic football season early next year. Said Magaya (via <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/magaya-builds-stadium-for-kwekwe/">The Herald</a>):
<blockquote>
Shepherd is strong enough and well-encouraged to make this project successful.
We expect to complete this venue in January, coinciding with the ZIFA elections.
After this project, my focus will be on the Southern and Eastern regions, they deserve the same.
I also urge entrepreneurs and the corporate world to initiate similar projects, enabling domestic players to showcase their talent in better facilities.
</blockquote>
Last year, Magaya unveiled another stadium, The Heart, a 5,000-seat facility located within the Yadah Complex in Harare’s Waterfalls. This stadium was officially commissioned by the country’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chahwanda owns Hardrock FC in the ZIFA Midlands Division 2B and the Kwekwe based side will be playing in the ZIFA Central Region Soccer League next season.
Kwekwe once boasted a strong presence in the top-flight league, with teams like Ziscosteel, Lancashire Steel, and Kwekwe Cables competing at the highest level.
Now, former Motor Action and Chicken Inn coach Prince Matore is on the brink of leading Kwekwe United into the 2025 Premiership season.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Walter Magaya, a preacher, is building a big stadium in Kwekwe with 10,000 seats for soccer. It will meet all the rules needed for African soccer games. The stadium is funded by Shepherd Chahwanda. They want it to be finished before the next soccer season. Magaya hopes it will help players in the country. He already opened another stadium in Harare. Kwekwe used to have good soccer teams, and they hope this new stadium will help them succeed again. Coach Prince Matore is leading a team hoping to get into the top soccer league.

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