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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
SPORTS and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane will come face-to-face with angry African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games’ suppliers in Bulawayo when he makes his first official visit to the city today. The suppliers and service providers are still owed huge sums of money almost a year after the Games were held.

The Games left Bulawayo with some world class sporting facilities ranging from the tartan track and electronic timer at White City Stadium, and an Olympic size swimming pool, among other facilities.

However, some suppliers are now almost destitute while others have closed shop as a result of litigation for failing to pay rates and rentals with the government yet to pay them.

“Nothing concrete came from the former Minister (Andrew Langa) as he kept on promising us until he left, so we now want Minister Hlongwane to tell us how the government will pay us. We are still very angry as we thought we were assisting in ensuring Zimbabwe hosts successful Games. To us it’s now like we committed a crime because we are worse off than what we were before the Games,” said one supplier, who requested anonymity.

Another supplier said they were confident something positive would come out of Minister Hlongwane’s visit.

“We are looking forward to the Minister’s visit. We hope he will spare time to address us and give us a concrete government position,” said the supplier.

The suppliers and service providers are owed in the region of $3 million.

Minister Hlongwane is expected to hold meetings with the Bulawayo City Council, various sports associations that participated in the Games as well as the local organising committee led by chairperson Khonzani Ncube.

Principal director in the Sports and Recreation Ministry Benson Dube said the Minister wanted to ensure that the Games’ facilities don’t become derelict like what happened to the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, but benefit all sports persons.

The Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex is now a rundown facility used for church services and musical shows despite being built for swimming and diving for the 1995 All-Africa Games.