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African Union Sports Council Region Five general manager Stanley Mutoya emphasises a point to the Senior Minister Simon Khaya-Moyo and Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Minister Olivia Muchena during a tour of Barbourfields Stadium yesterday

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Senior Minister of State in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Simon Khaya Moyo, was yesterday shocked when he came face to face with the slow progress of preparations for the forthcoming sixth edition of the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games to be held in Bulawayo from December 4-14 this year.
With just eight months before the bi-annual games come to life, there is little to suggest that the Games will be held  in Bulawayo and yesterday, Khaya Moyo, who chairs the Cabinet Committee for the Games, came face to face with the sad reality amid concerns that he, together with other members of Cabinet, had all along been told a different story.

The expected tour of venues was abruptly cancelled as there was “nothing to see” with Khaya Moyo and his delegation that included Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Minister Olivia Muchena, Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Deputy Minister Walter Kanhanga and other senior government officials only visiting Barbourfields Stadium.

Even though the Senior Minister later addressed the media and said he was confident the Games would be a success and that the government was fully behind them, those who attended a morning briefing, which was closed to the media, said the boardroom was tense as Khaya Moyo demanded answers from the local organising committee led by its chairman Charles Dzimba and chief executive officer Henry Manzungu.

“It’s a fact, nothing tangible has happened on the ground but it all hinges on funds,” said a member of the organising committee.
It is believed about $1 million was released on Wednesday.

However, so livid was Khaya Moyo yesterday that at one time he ordered everybody out of the debriefing room so that he could deliberate with the ministers only. The group was called back into the room after about an hour.

Once inside, Khaya Moyo demanded more answers in terms of progress and was reportedly told that there was a boiler at Hillside Teachers College but he was having none of it.

“You want us to tour the boiler and tenders, as you say?”
It was eventually agreed that they tour Barbourfields Stadium, which according to the plan, would see its seating capacity increasing from the present 26,000 spectators to between 30,000 and 35,000 while two more changing rooms would be built to bring to four the number of changing rooms.

The stadium will have an oval shape as the open spaces between stands will be joined together. The region’s general manager Stanley Mutoya said those plans are still in place despite the limited timeframe.

At Emagumeni, Senior Minister Khaya Moyo reiterated government’s commitment to hosting successful Games, adding that President Mugabe had been steadfast and at the forefront of pushing for a successful hosting.

Giving a hint of what really transpired in the briefing room, Senior Minister Khaya Moyo kept on reminding the local organising committee (Loc) to avoid remaining locked.

“To Loc, I say don’t remain locked but instead remain unlocked,” he said.
Meanwhile, the government will do everything in its power to make sure the standard of the Region Five Games are not lowered but are instead raised even higher.
This was said by the Senior Minister when he addressed members of the media soon after touring Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

“We don’t want to compromise the standards of these Games, everybody is fully geared to ensure we excel in terms of standards. Nothing must be delayed once it has been agreed on, especially these companies who will get tenders,” said Khaya Moyo.