SRC reaffirms commitment to NDS1 through sport

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), has reaffirmed its commitment to increase participation of Zimbabweans in sporting activities as it continues to push for a viable sports industry.

The SRC said they are also focusing on realisation of wellness and health by encouraging girls, women, elderly, youths and orphans to be involved in sporting activities in line with the National Development Strategy 1.

The Gerald Mlotshwa led supreme sports body said the broader involvement of the national populace in sport and recreation activities will in turn promote an active and healthy nation, creating a wider base for selection of competitive teams and social cohesion.

“This approach results in enhanced productivity in the various sectors of the economy. The sector also hopes to improve performances in sport through implementation of the deliberate programmes guided by sports science in the long term athlete development pathways towards the attainment of Podium Performance Programmes.

“The approach to programming produces competitive athletes who will drive the growth of our GDP through international transfers and remittances during their career, promotion of diplomacy and improvement of country image amongst other quick wins,” said the SRC acting director-general, Sebastian Garikai.

He said they have set in motion the foundations of an integrated sport and recreation system towards the achievements NDS1 set sectorial outcomes.

“To that end, the sector successfully sent teams out on international tours (including the 2019 Women’s Netball World Cup in Liverpool, Tokyo2020 Olympics) and hosted visiting international teams like the Afcon qualifiers resulting in the Warriors making it to the finals to be hosted by Cameroon.

“In the review period, 2017 to date, a number of our technical officials and administrators were appointed into regional and international bodies (Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry got into the International Olympic Committee board). Our athletes managed to qualify or compete at regional and international games with some defending and retaining their titles,” Garikai said.

Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) mixed martial arts champion and Zimbabwe’s Sportsman of the Year, Themba Gorimbo defended his welterweight title by defeating Lyle Karam in Pretoria, South Africa.

Following the victory, Gorimba paid a courtesy on President Mnangagwa who described the athlete as a true inspiration to all Zimbabweans for flying the country’s flag worldwide.

President Mnangagwa rewarded champion boxer Charles Manyuchi with a US$10 000 present following his victory in defence of the WBF world middleweight title. Manyuchi beat Ugandan Mahommed Sebyala by unanimous points decision in Masvingo.

Garikai said the SRC has been continuing with initiatives to make sure that there is inclusion of previously marginalised communities in sports programmes which include organisation of festivals.

He said under the New Dispensation, there has been increased decentralisation of the sport delivery system to ward, district and provincial levels for ease of operations through the devolution system. This, according to the SRC, has led to affording citizens equal opportunities.

You Might Also Like

Comments