The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
THE National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness has heeded the call by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to suspend public gatherings, with the association postponing both the Mr Novice event and the ZITF Open.
Government has declared the coronavirus pandemic a State of National Disaster, banning public gatherings of more than 100 people for the next 60 days, including church services, weddings and all international sporting fixtures.
The measures were announced by President Mnangagwa at the State House, Tuesday afternoon in a State of the Nation Address (SONA) which outlined sweeping precautions taken by the Government to control the new virus that has already affected some countries in southern Africa.
“Government has decided to postpone, curtail or cancel public events, gatherings and activities,” he said.
As a result, the NFZBF, through their secretary-general, Quiet Shangai, has issued a statement to all stakeholders, informing them that both the Mr Novice and ZITF Open have been put on ice.
“Reference is made to the State of the Nation Address on Coronavirus, made by His Excellency and the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa on March 17, 2020,” reads part of the statement.
“The National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness would like to inform all its stakeholders that the 2020 Novice Zimbabwe and ZITF Open have been suspended and will not take place on the March 28 and April 25 2020 respectively.
“The new dates will be announced if the environment changes for the better, and allows the federation to organise these two key events without affecting other programmes.
“The federation will also update its stakeholders regarding other competitions, as will be guided by the developments in our country.
‘While this was not an easy decision, the health of our entire bodybuilding and fitness community is for paramount importance,” further read the statement.
