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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Ministry of Sport and Recreation declared that 2018 would be a year of good corporate governance by sport associations and threatened National Sports Associations found on the wrong side of that declaration with deregistration.

Sad to say the majority of these sports associations continued to violate the SRC Act, which stipulates what needs to be done to meet good corporate governance.

As we begin the new year, there is a need for the country’s supreme sports body, the Sports and Recreation Commission, to walk the talk and come down heavily on associations that deliberately disregard the Act and rampantly violate their own constitutions.

Only then can good corporate governance be achieved because if an association can’t follow its own rules and regulations, how then can it be expected to abide by the SRC Act.

The SRC must, therefore, come hard on any sport associations, regardless of who leads that association, for it is only then that the country can achieve greatness in the multi-billion dollar sports industry that employs millions of people across the globe.

The SRC is mandated with overseeing all sporting activities in the country. It’s actually an arm of government and anyone defying its orders is literally in defiance of the Government of Zimbabwe.

Now and again, national associations violate their own constitutions, ignore the SRC (unknowingly or deliberately) and that cannot continue to be the case in 2018.

If 2017 was a year of good corporate governance, then 2018 must be a year of enforcing good corporate governance and taking decisive action against all non-compliant associations, regardless of who they are.

The SRC must grow teeth this year and act, instead of issuing hollow threats, if the government’s undertaking to uplift sports in the country is to be taken seriously.

The government has committed to ensuring that each of the country’s provinces and administrative districts have a multipurpose sporting facility that will not only provide a better livelihood and employment to the populace, but the opportunity for the country to play host to regional and international sporting competitions.

There will also be a deliberate approach into modernising existing national stadia with the introduction of bucket seats in line with international standards.

The commitment was made by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa in his 2018 budget presentation to Parliament last month.

Minister Chinamasa also said the Government will levy sport betting bookmakers five percent of gross takings with effect from January 1, 2018, after the realisation that the sport betting industry in had grown rapidly as a recreational activity and generated in excess of $30 million per annum.

The money will be used to upgrade community recreational centres throughout the country.

Such an undertaking by the government must not be taken lightly and anyone seen not towing the line must be dealt with.

The SRC is empowered, through the SRC Act Chapter 30, to descend heavily on delinquent National Sports Associations and this must not be applied selectively by the supreme sports body.

On numerous occasions, sports associations just do as they please with the SRC turning a blind eye and hopefully this will not be the case in 2018.

If the SRC continues to let associations do as they please, then the government, through the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Recreation must dissolve the board and appoint competent people who know what is expected of them.

Meanwhile, 2018 will see two major elections in local sport. Highlanders will elect a new chairman, secretary-general and committee member at the beginning of next month.

Zifa will also hold elections later this year following a disturbing move by councillors to adjourn its annual general meeting last month. Constitutionally, the Zifa elections ought to be held in March, but it will be impossible now as a result of that move.

While Bosso have religiously followed their constitution, the club has flagrantly failed to abide by some of its resolutions made at meetings and that constitutes a serious lack of good corporate governance.

The year will end with the Youth Olympic Games set for Argentina in October where 3 998 young athletes aged 15-18 years will compete in 32 disciplines.

What makes these games stand out is that they will be the first Olympic event to have the same number of male and female athletes, fostering gender equality.

Calls have already been made by the government to the relevant sporting authorities to ensure Zimbabwe does well by sending a competent team of youngsters to the event.

@skhumoyo2000