Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
LEGISLATORS for Bulawayo, Mpopoma-Pelandaba, Makokoba as well as Emakhandeni-Entumbane used part of the Parliament’s Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to fence community sports fields, Bulawayo City Council has revealed.
Responding to questions from Chronicle Sports after noticing that a number of community grounds in the above areas have been fenced off, the local authority said Makokoba’s Member of the National Assembly James Sithole used the CDF allocation to fence Thabiso Youth Centre as well as the 11th Street Ground.
Charles Moyo of Mpopoma-Pelandaba fenced Bango’s Ground behind Mpopoma’s swimming pool, Inyathi Recreation Centre in Mpopoma, two sports fields in Iminyela and another two in Pelandaba.
Emakhandeni Netball Court and a football field along Siyepambili Drive were fenced by Dingizwe Tshuma the local Parliamentary representative.
The local authority’s corporate communications manager Nesisa Mpofu allayed fears that social soccer and junior football teams that use the facilities that have been fenced off will be required to pay for use, adding that “those sports grounds are a free service to the community.”
“Makokoba 11th Street and Bango grounds are part of Council’s forty-three (43) community sports fields dotted around the city. The sports fields belong to City of Bulawayo and are used by the community for social soccer and lower division football matches. These facilities serve public interests and are owned and managed by the City. Council has carried out rehabilitation works on the sports fields with support availed. The sports fields at Makokoba 11th Street and Bango shops were fenced courtesy of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from the respective constituencies,” said Mpofu.
Asked if there could be developments such as dressing rooms and ablution facilities on these and other sports facilities across the city, Mpofu said: “At the moment there are no plans to upgrade those facilities. Due to resource constraints, the main focus is on maintenance of major stadia such as Barbourfields, White City and Luveve. Community sports grounds are also maintained to ensure that they fully serve their purpose and are in a playable state. Stakeholders who want to partner with council and develop community sports fields for the benefit of the community are welcome to do so.”
In the past, there were cries about neglect of youth sports centres across the city by the council.
The council official said they are concerned with vandalism of sports facilities, including thefts of fences and goal posts that they keep replacing.
“Members of the community are implored to desist from such acts as it is detrimental to the development of sports,” Mpofu said. -@ZililoR
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