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Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko (right) accompanied by the Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane as he arrived to officially open the 15th CANA Zone 1V Swimming Championship games at the municipal pool on Thursday

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE people of Bulawayo must make full use of the state-of-the-art Bulawayo City Pool which was renovated to world class level ahead of the 2014 African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games.

Speaking just before he officially opened the 15th edition of the Cana Zone IV Swimming and Waterpolo Championships which kicked off in Bulawayo on Thursday, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko said no one else can uplift swimming in the city other than locals.

“Mama Sandi, (Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, the Bulawayo Metropolitan provincial affairs minister) and the entire parents from Bulawayo, this facility is yours, let’s uplift it to international standards and maintain it. No one else will do that for us except us and our kids,” said VP Mphoko.

He applauded the Bulawayo City Council for revamping the facility presented to them by the Government as part of the legacy plan of the AUSC Region Five Games in preparation for the Cana event without which it would not have been approved as a Fina qualifying  event for the World Swimming Championships which will be held in Budapest, Hungary in July this year.

“It is through passionate efforts of this nature and magnitude and collaborations with the Government that we can only see our sport particularly with aquatics growing in this country. It is my hope that all the athletes gathered here will perform to the best of their ability,” said Vice President Mphoko.