Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT says investing in the physical, mental and creative wellbeing of its workers is critical to building an efficient and productive workforce capable of driving national development.
This message took centre stage in Gwanda during the 2026 7th Edition of the Inter-Ministerial Sports and Arts Festival, where hundreds of civil servants from across Zimbabwe temporarily swapped office desks for sporting fields and creative stages.
Held under the theme “Healthy nation, productive workforce”, the recent festival provided civil servants with an opportunity to relax, compete, showcase their talents and build relationships outside their usual work environment.
In a speech read on his behalf by Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Albert Nguluvhe during the official opening and closing ceremony at Phelandaba Stadium, Vice-President Kembo Mohadi said Government was prioritising the development of a healthy, astute and productive workforce.
He said physical well-being, mental fitness and creative expression were critical to enhancing
productivity while also cultivating workplace solidarity, teamwork, discipline and excellence in the public service.
“A healthy workforce is an astute and productive workforce, and is very critical for any nation, developing or developed. Such a workforce is handmaiden to the attainment of set national aspirations and goals.
“As the executors of state policy and implementers of Government programmes, as civil servants, you bear the fundamental responsibility of fostering national wellness and happiness,” he said.
VP Mohadi said civil servants remained central to the aspirations of the Second Republic and attainment of Vision 2030, with the festival also helping to nurture the Whole-of-Government philosophy by bringing workers from different ministries and development agencies together.
“Through sport and arts, we break the monotony of the office, alleviate occupational stress, foster inter-departmental harmony and build an unbreakable corporate spirit that transcends individual ministries and development agencies.
“This festival is strategically aligned with the overarching national framework of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2); it demands a diligent, focused, hardworking and patriotic citizenry across all sectors to achieve our collective vision. It emphasises inclusive growth, human capital development and structural transformation,” he said.
The festival presented a different side of the public service, with civil servants participating in football, athletics, volleyball, chess, darts and tug of war, while others took to the stage for modelling, choir competitions, Nharire Yomusha performances and the National Fabric Fashion Show.
Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Ambassador Anselem Sanyatwe, said such activities help create a healthier workplace culture by encouraging teamwork, mutual respect and stress reduction.
In a speech read on his behalf by his permanent secretary, Mr Nicholas Moyo, Ambassador Sanyatwe said sport was an important outlet for workers while also strengthening resilience and social cohesion.
“Sport serves as an essential therapeutic outlet, a builder of resilience and a vital catalyst for social cohesion and holistic wellness among our workforce,” he said.
“As a Ministry, we recognise that the benefits of sport must not be confined to urban centres or exclusive clubs.
“To truly build an active and winning nation, the Government is actively facilitating the construction of robust, multipurpose sports facilities directly in rural areas. These infrastructure developments are strategically designed to promote mass participation, unearth grassroots talent and ensure that every citizen regardless of their geographic location, has unhindered access to modern sports facilities,” he said.
The festival also highlighted the value of giving civil servants opportunities to interact beyond their formal roles, helping build relationships across ministries and agencies.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development emerged champions after winning seven gold, 11 silver and three bronze medals, followed by the Ministry of
Health and Child Care with six gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development finished third with four gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
For the workers who took part, the festival was a reminder that the people behind Government offices are more than their job titles.
They are individuals whose wellbeing, talents and relationships also matter to the effectiveness of the public service.
For Government, the message from Gwanda was clear: building a productive public service begins with investing in the people behind the desk.
