All set for SAUSSA Games

Nhlanhla Mbele 

CHINHOYI University of Technology (CUT) is the place to be when the institution plays host to 19 local and regional universities in the 20th edition of the Southern African Universities Staff Sports Association (Saussa) from 1 to 8 December.

Saussa, a grouping of universities from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), is arguably one of the biggest sporting extravaganzas that brings together staff members of higher learning to one country per year to battle it out in various sporting disciplines. 

This year’s edition will be run under the theme “Promoting wellness, unity and diversity through sports”. 

Sadc member states that will participate in the Saussa games are Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Participants will compete in football, athletics, netball, volleyball, tennis and in-door games that include chess, pool and darts. 

Saussa was formed in 1999 starting with just three universities namely University of Zimbabwe, University of Botswana and University of Namibia. 

Its aim was to foster unity and encourage interaction among university staff members through sports and recreation.

Over the years the annual games continued to grow in leaps and bounds as more universities joined the association with National University of Science and Technology, the University of Malawi, University of Zambia, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, University of Namibia, Fort Hare University, Walter Sisulu University, University of Limpopo and Sefako Makgatho University also coming to the party. 

Apart from the games, the 1 155 athletes will embark on a clean-up exercise and also donate to the less privileged.