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Business Reporter
THE hosting of the African Union Under 20 African Region Five Youth Games in Bulawayo has created more than 2,000 jobs for residents, especially the youth, a minister has said.
Welcoming First Lady Grace Mugabe at Amazulu stadium where she addressed a rally on Wednesday, the Provincial Minister of State for Bulawayo  Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo said the ongoing infrastructure upgrading exercise at the city’s major sporting fields has increased business activity.

“You (First Lady) are coming at a time when Bulawayo is celebrating its 120 years anniversary. We’ll also be hosting the Under 20 African Youth Games in December,” she said.

“We came to this venue because Barbourfields, White City and other facilities are under renovation to upgrade their infrastructure to standard. To that end over 2,000 people will get jobs from these projects.”

The facilities under renovation included Barbourfields, White City and Luveve stadia, the games’ village at Hillside Teachers’ College and the city pool.
Minister Moyo said the closure of companies was a thorn in the flesh for Bulawayo people and accused some foreign-based factory owners of deliberately frustrating the economy by refusing to rent out their premises. “Most owners of these firms closed shop and deserted the city. They don’t even want these to be rented. Those who rent them out charge higher prices that indigenous people can’t afford,” she said.

Minister Moyo also said people in Bulawayo wanted land and complained that the 2004 proclamation to extend Bulawayo borders to a 40km radius has not been implemented.