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Minister Patrick Chinamasa has reduced the money allocated to sports

Weekend whispers with Sikhumbuzo Moyo

WHEN President Robert Mugabe created a separate Ministry of Sports in September 2013 with Andrew Langa appointed the inaugural Minister for the portfolio, it was very clear the value which the President attached to sports. It was also clear that the government no longer regarded sports as leisure or a part time thing but a multi billion dollar industry with a potential of creating employment in large numbers and improving the government coffers.

The President also knew that the country cannot ignore sports tourism and its huge benefits to the economy and of course it also fitted very well with the country’s economic blue print, Zim-Asset.

According to the United Nations, sport is seen to have the most benefits in individual development, health promotion and disease prevention, promotion of gender equality, social integration and the development of social capital, peace building and conflict prevention/resolution, post-disaster/trauma relief and normalisation of life, economic development, communication and social mobilisation.

It is therefore imperative that as Zimbabweans we help the President fulfill his vision of a successful sporting nation, a nation that will be the envy of many and once that happens, other sectors of the economy will naturally benefit as well.

Other line ministries must make sure that this latest baby in government does not suffer stunted growth and one of those key ministries is Finance, headed by Patrick Chinamasa.

Without any finance, the ministry of Sports and Recreation cannot hope to go anywhere. Without any finance, Makhosini Hlongwane, the head of the ministry, can surely not be expected to turn around the fortunes of the country’s sports. He can’t fulfill his mandate and that of the ministry which is to develop and promote excellence in sport for the social cohesion, economic empowerment and nation building.
Sport is known to be a unifier as it cuts across racial, tribal, religious and political differences therefore helping with national healing and reconciliation.

When participating in sports we all forget about our troubles and various issues and projects that we might be affiliated to. Sport brings us together as a country.

On Thursday, Minister Chinamasa presented his 2016 national budget and as sports persons we waited with bated breath to hear what the Minister had for sports, be it monetary allocation or importation of sports equipment so as to empower our sports associations.

I was totally shocked therefore, when the Honourable Minister actually reduced the sports ministry’s allocation from $5, 985, 463 to $4, 202,000. I expected Chinamasa to actually empower the sports ministry in many ways than one but alas, Hlongwane will now have to make do with a shoe string budget.

We are still mourning our suspension from the 2018 World Cup as a result of the nation’s failure to pay Warriors’ former coach Valinhos, something which is really a national embarrassment to say the least. Across our borders, in Zambia, the government had to intervene and pay Chipolopolo’s former coach 3,2 million Kwacha as they too faced expulsion.

It was important for Chinamasa to assist us as a sporting country by allocating a reasonable amount to the ministry. If it was impossible to do that with money, then he must have for example, reduced import duty on some sports equipment or even totally removed it so that our various clubs and associations can be empowered.

Sport has a huge potential of improving the country’s revenue but sports revenue can only be assured if we are an organised nation with a sound sports performance history. Our participation in international competitions naturally improves our sports tourism while marketing the country, so Minister Chinamasa, help our sports grow.

I know the government has its priorities but that should not be to the detriment of other sectors of the economy. This is a new baby still trying to find its feet in the cruel jungle and if not assisted it could be very hard for it to walk, if not to live an everlasting life.

In all countries, the importance of sport as a source of physical well being and as a tool to help combat socio-cultural ills is growing day by day.

When a phenomenon such as sport gains importance in the economic world as well as in the field of international politics, it has become a part of everyday life.

As already alluded to, the full impact of sports can only be felt if it is well funded hence my call to Minister Chinamasa to help our sports grow and grow it will if funded properly.

We hailed the President when he created the stand alone ministry. Let’s make sure it stays afloat for obvious reasons.

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