DAR ES SALAAM: THE Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma, has urged contractors working on the Arusha sports stadium to ensure the project is completed on time, ahead of the final inspection by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.
Mwinjuma made the remarks over the weekend during a site visit to assess the progress of the stadium’s construction in Olmoti Ward, Arusha.
The stadium is set to be one of the venues for AFCON 2027, which will be cohosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
“CAF officials will conduct their final inspection in July 2026, but we want this project completed by May 2026—two months before the inspection,” Mwinjuma stated.
He emphasised that the project is a top priority for the government, highlighting President Samia Suluhu’s commitment to ensuring it is completed on schedule.
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“The President understands the importance of this stadium being ready to meet CAF’s timeline for hosting AFCON 2027. She has directed us to closely monitor the project and ensure that all payments are made on time,” he added.
Mwinjuma expressed satisfaction with the construction progress which is currently on 27 per cent, noting that contractors were working diligently to meet deadlines.
“I am pleased with the pace of this project and we expect it to set a benchmark for other national projects,” he remarked.
During the visit, the Deputy Minister was accompanied by the Member of Parliament for Arusha Urban, Mrisho Gambo who raised concerns on behalf of the local community.
The MP requested that locals be prioritised for project jobs and that water pipes be installed outside the stadium to support food vendors and hygiene.
“Ensure that the local community also gains from this project, including access to contractual job opportunities, as they are the immediate neighbours of the stadium. Additionally, I encourage you to support women running food businesses in this area by installing water pipes outside the stadium to prevent them from struggling to access water within the stadium premises,” he said.
The completion of the Arusha stadium is expected to be a major milestone in Tanzania’s preparations for AFCON 2027, positioning the country to host one of Africa’s premier football tournaments.
