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NewsDay

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Magaya repairs Mbizo Stadium

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PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya has reportedly started fixing the collapsed precast wall at Kwekwe’s Mbizo Stadium which killed 11 of his congregants following a stampede during a church service last November.

PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader Walter Magaya has reportedly started fixing the collapsed precast wall at Kwekwe’s Mbizo Stadium which killed 11 of his congregants following a stampede during a church service last November.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

Council’s housing and community services director Newton Dete told NewsDay yesterday that Magaya’s church members were already on the ground putting up a new precast wall and perimeter fence after seven months of waiting.

“We had a meeting with Magaya and his members and they committed to make good all the damage that was done during the all-night prayer meeting which ended fatally and I am glad to say seven months after the stampede work has started,” Dete said.

Prophet Walter Magaya holds a sample of the new annointing oil as he introduces into to thousands of his congregation during their big Sunday service yesterday - Copy

He added that Magaya had pledged to pour in nearly $20 000 to repair the 15 000-seater stadium which was once home to former Premier Soccer League team Kwekwe Cables.

“Our calculations show that material which is needed is close to $20 000 and this excludes labour. PHD is the one that has hired its people to do the work and we will just monitor,” Dete said.

Council had over the past seven months lost a lot of money in potential revenue, but mayor Matenda Madzoke yesterday said their main concern was having the stadium repaired and would not demand compensation from Magaya.

The stadium’s precast wall collapsed when police allegedly closed other gates forcing over 15 000 congregants to use a single exit point after Magaya’s all-night crusade.

It is alleged that the congregants then brought down the stadium’s precast wall after police fired teargas into the crowd resulting in a stampede.