The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
A CLEAR vision, commitment and transparency are some of the qualities national sports associations want the next Zimbabwe Olympic Committee president to have.
Admire Masenda is the incumbent and has hinted at seeking re-election while Zimbabwe Karate Union president Joe Rugwete is understood to be interested in the post.
“Obviously we will want a leader with transparency and a vision for sports development,” said Zimbabwe Table Tennis Union president John Muringani. “We do not want bias – for example, if the nominated leader comes from table tennis then we see a majority of table tennis administrators or personnel in ZOC offices. We discourage nepotism and favouritism.”
Zimbabwe Baseball Association head Morris Banda said the next ZOC leader should reach out to all sporting codes and provinces.
“It’s not like leaders should go out and be active on the ground always, but their programmes and initiatives should reach out to all provinces. It shouldn’t be a Harare thing only … This obviously starts from the leader who initiates such moves,” said Banda.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe vice-president Enias Nhoro weighed in: “We want someone who knows that sport starts at grass root and not competition level. You start at the bottom going to the top and we feel that has not been properly done in athletics, I am not sure of other sports.”
Zimbabwe Volleyball Association president Ringisai Mapondera is more concerned with accountability.
“We want a transparent leader someone who is accountable and will also look into all sporting disciplines,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Archery Association boss Victor Bartosz said they would vote for someone with “love for sport”.
“We want someone who knows what he is doing, someone with the love of sport. To me it’s about the sports players and we want someone who knows how to get the best out of our players so that they go out and make sure our flag is hanging around the world,” he said.
Andrew Lorimer of the Rowing Association of Zimbabwe said the candidate who promised equal treatment would likely get his vote.
“We are looking for someone energetic and appreciative of the smaller sports; someone who will support smaller sports and realise that they are also important in the development of sport in the country,” he said.
