Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Municipal Correspondent
THE Government has identified 25 swimming pools for rehabilitation in partnership with the City of Harare, a move expected to restore swimming facilities at schools and expand opportunities for thousands of learners while improving water safety among children.
Speaking during the handover of a rehabilitated swimming pool at Courtney Selous Primary School in Ruwa this morning, District Schools Inspector Mr Blessing Chimbwanda said the initiative would ease the burden on parents and communities while creating opportunities for pupils to participate in sport.
“The company which rehabilitated this pool has identified 25 pools to be rehabilitated and they are appealing to the Ministry to accept their gesture so that they can proceed with the programme,” said Mr Chimbwanda.
“To us, it is a plus and we actually accept such an intervention. It goes a long way in saving not only the school but the community at large.”
He said many parents were struggling to meet educational costs and welcomed private sector support.
“They are finding it hard to fund schools, to fund school fees and the like. But if we have such people, they are actually alleviating that challenge from parents and shouldering the burden on their own, which is something that we appreciate very much,” Mr Chimbwanda said.
The rehabilitation was undertaken by Kings Point Financial Services under its Neptune’s Swimming Project, which seeks to revive swimming facilities at schools across the country.
Kings Point Financial Services chief executive officer Mr Tinashe Manzungu said the project was aimed at ensuring every child had an opportunity to learn how to swim.
“We embarked on the Neptune’s Swimming Project basically to try and make sure that we leave no child behind in terms of an ability and an opportunity to be able to swim,” he said.
Mr Manzungu said the Courtney Selous pool held special significance for him as it had produced several talented swimmers over the years.
“One of the things about this swimming pool is that it has a personal history for me. It has built quite a reputation as a creator of champions,” he said.
“My little sister swam in this swimming pool, and she later became head girl at this school. Before her, this school hosted many competitions across the Government school spectrum.”
He said some of Zimbabwe’s celebrated swimmers had competed at the facility.
“You had names as great as Kirsty Coventry, who came and competed in this swimming pool when she was still in school. I also swam in this swimming pool many years ago, and it holds many dear memories.”
Mr Manzungu said no child should complete their schooling without being exposed to sport.
“You never want a situation where a child goes from Grade One to Upper Six without having had an opportunity to test themselves out in any type of sport,” he said.
He said swimming had been prioritised because of its role in saving lives.
“We picked swimming because there has to be an intentionality in making sure our kids are safe in the water.”
“Swimming is different from football or tennis in that any child can fall into water. Any child can become a victim of a water accident.”
Mr Manzungu said the existence of swimming infrastructure at many schools presented an opportunity to revive the sport and improve water safety.
“Because we have got the infrastructure at the schools, we felt we needed to step forward and start reviving as many swimming pools as the Government will allow us to.”
He welcomed the Government’s efforts to encourage collaboration with the private sector.
“We are excited about the pathways that the Government has created for public-private partnerships and we are heeding this invitation to come in and stand with the Government.”
Mr Manzungu said the company was working with several partners, including Easypool, to ensure the success of the programme.
“Easypool is probably the biggest partner that we have got. They have given us an incredible arrangement which will allow us to look after different pools,” he said.
He revealed that the company intends to rehabilitate or adopt 50 swimming pools within the next two years.
“We are targeting 50 swimming pools over the next two years. We are excited about it. We are a bit scared, but definitely we are excited about it.
“We know that with the partnerships that we have gotten and with the fact that the Government has said this is something that they are keen on seeing happen, we will be able to get these 50 pools done over the next two years.”
Peter Tanyanyiwa