The Sunday Mail
Ranson Madzamba
HISTORICAL accounts of the indigenous people of Zimbabwe show that they have always been an active people.
Since time immemorial, sport and recreation have been an integral part of Zimbabwe’s heritage that deserves preservation.
The desire to conserve the local sports heritage resulted in the birth of the Department of Sport and Recreation at independence in 1980.
In various formations, the department has co-existed with other Government departments a notable 11 times, as Government structures evolved after independence.
It has had 15 ministers over the past 42 years.
Within this period, there have been various developments such as the promulgation of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act, establishment of the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), adoption of the National Sports and Recreation Policy, and hosting of major events such as the All-Africa Games in 1995, the 2003 Cricket World Cup and the 2014 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Games.
It is during this period that giant sporting facilities such as the Magamba and Khumalo hockey stadiums, as well as the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, were constructed.
Globally, sport and recreation have become drivers of national economies and branding.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe enjoins the State to take all practical measures to encourage sporting and recreational activities, including the provision of sport and recreation facilities for all.
As such, it has become imperative for the Government to invest concerted efforts and optimal resources for the attainment of tangible results through sport and recreation development.
The Second Republic has accordingly invested efforts and resources to ensure increased participation by all Zimbabweans in physical activities and sport.
In line with the new thrust, and, as enshrined in the National Development Strategy 1, Government has put in place comprehensible sport and recreation delivery systems that are traceable from the grassroots.
The systems are durable enough to eliminate social fragmentations, as well as instil sound management in the sector for social and economic gain.
To that end, the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation has set the tone for the development of the sector to reputable standards by ensuring that sport contributes to safe, strong and sustainable communities, and that it is accessible to all citizens regardless of colour, creed, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status and political affiliation, as well as physical and cognitive ability.
Traditional games in Zimbabwe
Traditional games have been significant for Zimbabwe’s recreational culture. They were originated by native communities to communicate norms and values, as well as various social-political and economic issues of traditional societies.
Traditional games are also a material asset in the distillation of values of ubuntu/unhu, strong work ethic, honesty, integrity, humility, professionalism, discipline and the intrinsic desire for amusement.
In contemporary times, sport and recreation have been part of diplomacy, tourism and an antidote to juvenile delinquency, as well as a source of employment when pursued professionally.
Leadership consistency
The Second Republic has heralded the appointment of competent personnel with specialised technical soundness.
The appointment of Dr Kirsty Coventry at the helm of the sport and recreation sector brought a new impetus in the renewal of governance systems in sport in Zimbabwe.
It was also the dawn of a new era in relations with continental and global organisations such as the African Union Sports Council, International Olympic Committee, World Anti-Doping Agency and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
Most significantly, since the advent of the Second Republic, turnover in leadership positions has been nominal, resulting in policy consistency, coherence and retention of institutional memory.
Legislative amendments
In its desire to align sport and recreation to contemporary standards, as well as the renewal of internal systems, the ministry has sponsored the Sport Integrity Bill and the Sport, Leisure and Recreation Bill.
The Sport Integrity Bill seeks to provide for the elimination of repugnant practices such as competition manipulation, illegal betting, fraud, corruption and doping, as well as riots and violence.
On the other hand, the Sport, Leisure and Recreation Bill seeks to renew the governance systems of sport and recreation in the country and to embrace the management of leisure.
Refurbishment of facilities
Government views the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium, as well as other key sporting facilities, as a paramount step in the transformation of sport in the country.
The establishment of a quality and standard stadium has been widely viewed as an essential step in the creation of people-friendly structures, which provide maximum levels of comfort and safety.
It has been noted that sports facilities have now become architectural icons within the urban landscape, with a massive impact on the surrounding communities and infrastructure.
Currently, work is underway in upgrading the National Sports Stadium in the following ways:
Installation of stadium seats
Installation of electronic turnstiles
Installation of the venue operation control system
Renovation of the interior substructure to accommodate premium seating areas, club seats, expansion of concourses and establishment of retail shops and a museum.
Available opportunities
As the ministry trudges ahead with its refurbishment plans, opportunities are available for investors in the following areas:
Naming rights for the stadium
Naming rights in premium seating areas and club seats
Audio-visual equipment branding, supply and installations
Retail establishments within stadium
Concession agreements for tailgating food and beverages
Promotion of women in sport programmes
The National Sports and Recreation Policy in Zimbabwe envisages that the country shall ensure a sport system that provides quality sport experiences, where women and girls are actively engaged and equitably supported in a full range of roles.
In view of the aforementioned, Zimbabwe has always advocated the advancement of gender equity, empowerment and improved quality of life for girls and women in recognition of the benefits of sport to them.
The country has extended meaningful opportunities for women and girls to become involved in the development of sport, according to their interests, abilities, talents and choices throughout a lifetime’s involvement.
It has also been consistently implementing women and girls’ festivals, with the main event being the Women and Girls in Sport Festival.
For the past three years, the ministry has been administering the women and girls’ festival.
In fact, in 2020, about 8 000 women and girls participated in the festival held in Bikita, Masvingo province.
The ministry has also subscribed to regional programmes such as the Women Leadership Programme, which is a regional programme initiated under the theme “Empower one, Empower multitudes!”
Twenty-five participants have since undergone training and a second intake of 25 has been initiated.
The programme seeks to enhance leadership capacities among women leaders in sport for the development of community sport in Zimbabwe.
In partnership with its arms, the ministry is convening the Women 4 Women and the Female Leaders of Tomorrow sport trainings.
To date, 50 women have gone through the training, with support from the International Federation for Sport for All.
Community sport and recreation club system
The ministry has identified the Community Sport and Recreation Development Strategy (CSRDS) as the platform for decentralisation and democratisation of sport and recreation in Zimbabwe.
Through this strategy, Government, in collaboration with stakeholders, is rolling out a community sports club programme.
It is Government’s desire to introduce organised sport and recreation in all communities as part of a broad plan to capacitate the industry.
The CSRDS club system is an effective platform for stimulating mass participation in sport and recreation by various people – including youth, women, persons with disabilities and the elderly.
It seeks to address issues of discipline, employment, patriotism, gender, healthy lifestyles, tolerance, community development, fairness, culture, nationhood and social cohesion, as well as generating a productive working class, thereby contributing towards the country’s economy.
Government’s determination to use sport and recreation as a vehicle for social change has aided in the elevation of sport as a vital element to national development, as well as the democratisation of our beautiful country, Zimbabwe.
Ranson Madzamba is the deputy director for communications and advocacy for the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.
