ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) managing director Givemore Makoni has revealed that the new Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls is now 90 percent complete and remains on schedule to be opened in October, with domestic cricket expected to be the first action staged at the venue.
The state-of-the-art stadium, which has been confirmed as one of Zimbabwe's three venues for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, is being developed not only to host international cricket but also to showcase Victoria Falls as one of the world's premier tourism destinations during the global showpiece.
Speaking to SuperSport in Johannesburg on the sidelines of lastThursday's official unveiling of the 2027 World Cup host venues, Makoni expressed confidence that construction was progressing according to plan.
"The Victoria Falls Stadium will be ready in time for the World Cup. As it stands it is already 90% complete and the pitch is also 90% complete and should be able to host domestic matches in October," Makoni said.
The announcement came during a spectacular launch ceremony in Johannesburg, where the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the 12 venues that will host the tournament across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Zimbabwe will stage matches at Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo and the new Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls, with the country set to host 10 matches during the tournament.
The inclusion of the Victoria Falls venue marks a significant milestone in Zimbabwe's sporting infrastructure, with the modern facility expected to leave a lasting legacy long after the World Cup while boosting tourism and economic activity in one of Africa's most iconic destinations.
In a Zimbabwe Cricket statement following the announcement, Makoni said confirmation of the country's three host venues represented the culmination of years of planning and collaboration.
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"The confirmation of our three host venues is an exciting moment for everyone who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this event to life," he said.
"Preparations have been progressing well, and this announcement gives us even greater momentum as we continue working closely with the ICC and our fellow hosts to ensure every aspect of the tournament meets the highest international standards.
"Beyond the cricket itself, we see the World Cup as an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through infrastructure development, tourism, economic activity and inspiring the next generation of Zimbabwean cricketers."
The World Cup will return to Africa for the first time in 24 years after South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya jointly hosted the tournament in 2003.
A total of 57 matches featuring the world's top 14 teams will be played under a new three-stage competition format, with South Africa hosting the majority of the fixtures and Namibia staging three matches in Windhoek.
Thursday's ceremony was attended by Zimbabwe Cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani, Sports minister Anselem Sanyatwe and Zimbabwe cricket legend Hamilton Masakadza, who joined South African greats Makhaya Ntini and Hashim Amla as well as Namibia's Rudolf Jansen van Vuuren to unveil the tournament's official brand under the theme "Three Nations, One Heartbeat."
The tournament will also embrace the African philosophy of Ubuntu through the "Make the Circle Bigger" campaign, celebrating the unity, diversity and shared heritage of the three host nations as they prepare to welcome the cricketing world in 2027.
