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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
VERY few people believed it when news broke that the African Union Region Five Under-20 Games will be held in Bulawayo in 2014. This was last year during the Government of National Unity with David Coltart, then Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture.Many thought it was perhaps mere speculation and for the sceptical, it was a campaign gimmick by the authorities to win the votes of Bulawayans.

We were informed that His Excellency President Mugabe personally gave the nod to have these games played in the second largest city of Zimbabwe. Many people rode on the President’s bold decision to bring these Games to Bulawayo, at a time when the majority of industries were closing shop and relocating to Harare.

When Andrew Langa was appointed Minister of Sports, he kept on reiterating that these Games were to be held in Bulawayo because of President Mugabe. Again few people believed him as some credited Langa’s predecessor Coltart for this.

The doubting Thomases were almost vindicated when the outspoken chairperson of the Parliamentary portfolio committee  on Sports Temba Mliswa, a Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairman, took the sports ministry to task as to why they took the games to Bulawayo yet Harare had existing and better facilities.

Mliswa was so livid about the Games coming to Bulawayo that he chose to play minister of finance by suggesting that there was no money in the fiscus, even before the relevant Minister had said so.

Armed with that piece of uninformed rantings, the doubting Thomases “confirmed” that these Games would be taken away from US, the people of Bulawayo.

All along, the President had been watching from a distance, not saying a word about these Games until this past Thursday when he lit the torch for the games at the State House.

Known to be a man who does not mince his words, the President told the whole world that some, even within the regional organising committee, wanted to move these games elsewhere.

Nicodemously, said the President, they tried to court some senior government officials but he remained resolute that these biennial games must and should come to Bulawayo.

“I wanted it done for Bulawayo, Bulawayo of all our cities, is the one which has suffered the most from sanctions,” said the President.
He went on to tell the gathering that Coltart at one time developed cold feet and attempted to have the Games moved to Harare.

“…I said are you becoming spineless Mr Coltart, come on, strengthen your spine. Games will be held in Bulawayo,” said the President.
He said the stance jolted Coltart a bit.

The secretary general of the African Union Sports Council, Mvuzo Mbebe also tried to have the Games moved from Bulawayo by approaching Vice President Joice Mujuru to canvass for support.

“I didn’t know there was another attempt and why should they have gone to the Vice President? So if the VP can say yes, she will be the right person to go to the President with the strong view, what’s that?”

It is quite clear then that had it not been for the President’s stance, all this work which is happening at Barbourfields Stadium, Luveve Stadium, White City Stadium, Bulawayo Athletics Club, City Pools and the number of jobs created for the city of Bulawayo dwellers would just be a dream.

President Mugabe is fully aware that Harare has existing and better sporting facilities that could have seen the country saving huge amounts of money but he still stuck by his choice to have these Games here.

To show its commitment,  $14 million was channelled towards the refurbishment of the various venues to be used while more than 1,000 jobs were created.

For that reason, surely the Head of State deserves a huge ovation and when he stands on that podium during the official opening of the Games at Barbourfields Stadium on December 5, the people of Bulawayo should make sure the stadia is filled to capacity.

We say thank you President Mugabe, Siyabonga!