The Sunday Mail
This year’s Annual National Sport Awards were sponsored to the tune of $30 000, with individuals vying for awards in 16 different categories.
The Sportsperson of the year award, which was scooped by World Boxing Council welterweight champion, Charles Manyuchi is said to have been carrying not more than $3 000, a figure the Sports Commission has not confirmed.
In sharp contrast, the South Africa Sport Awards for 2013 saw the star of that year, Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, walking away with R1 million, half of which was donated to charity and a BMW 1 Series.
While category winners got R130 000 each, the runners-up walked away with R15 000. For being crowned a Lifetime Achiever, one walked away with R100 000, with the excellence award carrying a R20 000 prize tag to it.
While economic challenges have not spared local companies who are keen to sponsor sport, the Government has not been helping matters as well by not delivering on its promises.
Delta Corporation, the title sponsors of the ANSA awards for the past six years, said despite the contribution they make in sport, the company does not derive tax concessions or preferential access to government tenders.
“The company does not derive tax concessions or preferential access to government tenders. To the contrary, some of the sponsorships have been disallowed for tax purposes as they have been adjudged by the tax authorities to be donations,” Alex Makamure the company’s secretary said.
Delta Corporation participates in a number of sporting disciplines through its various brands which include the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, the Chibuku Super Cup, the Copa Coca Cola Nash Under 16 football tournament, the Golden Pilsener Zimbabwe and Harare Open Golf tournaments.
The giant beverages company is also involved in sponsoring the Castle Tankard horse race, darts and pool tournaments as well as the Danhiko Paralympic Games.
This involvement spreads to sponsoring the Lion National Rugby League, a sport which they have sponsored for over 15 years.
Cutting their ANSA sponsorship by $20 000 from last year’s $50 000, Makamure said their intention was to encourage other corporates to share in sponsoring the event.
“It is common cause that sponsorships are secured for specific periods ranging between three to five years. The ANSA deal was meant to run for five years, but we agreed to maintain the association with SRC for 2014 to allow further consultations on the future.
“The level of sponsorship talks adhere to the agreed budget and scope of the sponsorship. It has always been the intention that the ANSA sponsorships be opened up to other category sponsors instead of relying on one title sponsor. The reduction effected in 2014 was on that basis.
“We continue to review our sponsorship properties in line with the business capability, and in view of the tough operating environment. Most of the properties still have a few more years to run and will be reviewed on expiry,” Makamure said.
Head of BancEasy Desmond Ali concurred and said sponsoring sport was a social responsibility gesture that did not reap many benefits for companies.
“These tax benefits can go a long way. For us, it does not matter how small or big the amount is. Remember, we are spending and do not get much out of sponsoring since its social responsibility work,” Ali said.
While last year during this time the deputy minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Tabitha Kanengoni-Malinga revealed that the ministry would propose tax incentives for companies that sponsor sport in a policy document which was supposed to be launched in the first quarter of this year, nothing has materialised yet.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ANSA banquet last Wednesday, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa said the sport policy is now expected to be completed next year.
He added that consultations are still in progress with Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa to award tax incentives for companies that sponsor sport.
“We are still discussing incentives for the corporate entities with the Ministry of Finance. That should work out soon. I believe that they would appreciate that sport is a business in this country. Unfortunately, our people don’t appreciate that sport is big business in this country.
“We are working on the sport policy and hopefully next year we will be able to conclude and finish the sports policy. I am happy that with the little that companies have and can offer, they are coming on board,” Langa said.
