On April 25th, workers were working on the comprehensive sports stadium project in Arusha, Tanzania. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yahui
This is a busy construction site in the northern Tanzanian city of Arusha: six towering tower cranes stretch their steel arms, accurately lifting building materials at high altitudes; The sounds of welding, mechanical roar, and command echoed one after another, interweaving into a symphony of construction; Thousands of workers wearing safety helmets and reflective vests are working hard to fill the construction “progress bar”… A modern sports stadium has begun to take shape.
Look, this will be one of the venues for the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament in the future! “Local engineer Patrick Maria pointed to the nearly completed main structure of the venue, his face full of pride.
The Africa Cup, founded in 1957, is the highest standard national team competition in the field of football in Africa. It will be jointly held in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in 2027. The Arusha Comprehensive Sports Stadium project, undertaken by China Railway Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd., has a total planned land area of 142200 square meters. The main construction content includes a comprehensive sports stadium that can accommodate 30000 people and a warm-up venue for athletes. The project is expected to complete the main structure construction by the end of June this year and be delivered by the end of July next year.
It is reported that the design inspiration for the stadium comes from Tanzanian sapphires and Mount Kilimanjaro, and the colors are blended with the colors of the Tanzanian flag. The overall architectural style is light and simple. The venue will be equipped with LED large screens, green lighting systems, and introduce intelligent technology to cover multiple aspects such as ticketing and operation management. Damas Daniel Ndunbaro, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Sports of Tanzania, said at the groundbreaking ceremony last April that this stadium is an important infrastructure for the country’s first hosting of the African Cup and will become another landmark building in the area.
The city of Arusha is the headquarters of the East African Community and the home of numerous international and regional organizations. In addition, the Arusha region is also a famous tourist hub in Tanzania, with multiple national parks. However, the only drawback is the lack of modern large-scale sports facilities in the area. The completion of the new sports stadium will reverse this situation.
This project has a short construction period and heavy tasks, and the pressure is indeed not small. Especially during the long rainy season, it will have an impact on the construction progress. Therefore, we strive to compete with the weather and truly achieve the goal of ‘seizing sunny days and fighting rainy days’. “Li Lin, the executive manager of the Arusha Comprehensive Sports Stadium project of China Railway Construction Engineering Group, said that with the joint efforts of the Chinese and Tanzanian builders, the project team overcame challenges such as tight supply of building materials and difficulties in equipment allocation, ensuring that the construction period progressed steadily according to plan.
This Chinese company not only introduces advanced domestic machinery and technology during the project construction process, but also adopts a mentorship model to teach local employees architectural knowledge and skills through theoretical lectures, on-site practical operations, and other methods. The construction requirements for sports stadiums are much higher than those for ordinary buildings, and local workers who have been trained through this project are capable of handling various engineering projects, “said Li Lin.
“From my Chinese colleagues, I learned real professionalism, and their pursuit of project quality is admirable!” Mustafa Hashim Chikaway, 35, said in an interview with reporters, “The construction of the stadium is usually accompanied by the upgrading of the surrounding road network, water and electricity supply, and communication facilities. This stadium will not only change the face of Arusha, but also open a new career for local engineers like us.”
Zhang Zhewei, born in the 2000s, joined the project after graduating from university last year. With a background in civil engineering, he is currently rotating and studying in various technical departments, as well as responsible for aerial photography recording. He said: “When I went to school, I learned about the Tazara Railway in my books, and was moved by the friendship between China and Africa to build roads together. Unexpectedly, I came to Tanzania today to participate in the the Belt and Road project. Through the drone camera, I watched the stadium change day by day, and my local colleagues and I were also growing little by little!”
The Arusha Comprehensive Sports Stadium project is a microcosm of the deepening and expansion of practical cooperation in various fields since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tanzania more than 60 years ago. China has maintained its position as Tanzania’s largest trading partner, largest source of foreign investment, and largest engineering contractor for several consecutive years. In recent years, a large number of characteristic agricultural products from Tanzania have been continuously exported to China, and major infrastructure projects such as railways, bridges, and hydropower stations have been steadily promoted, making important contributions to creating employment, improving people’s livelihoods, and promoting connectivity in the local area
This building, named after the current President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, not only carries Tanzania’s sports dream, but also witnesses the sweat and friendship of builders from China and Tanzania. When the 2027 Africa Cup starts here, these construction stories will surely become moving and unforgettable memories like exciting events! “Said Zhang Zhewei.
This is a drone photo taken on April 28th of the construction site of the Arusha Comprehensive Sports Stadium project in Tanzania. Xinhua News Agency (Image provided by China Railway Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd.)
On April 25th, workers used a cutting machine to cut steel bars at the comprehensive sports stadium project in Arusha, Tanzania. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yahui
On February 10th, workers carried out concrete curing operations at the comprehensive sports stadium project in Arusha, Tanzania. Xinhua News Agency (Image provided by China Railway Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd.)
On April 25th, workers were working on the comprehensive sports stadium project in Arusha, Tanzania. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yahui
On April 25th, workers were working on the comprehensive sports stadium project in Arusha, Tanzania. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yahui