adminA notable example of the corporate world shunning people with disabilities is that of Zimbabwe’s number one wheelchair tennis player Nyasha Mharakurwa who failed to get funds to enable him to compete in overseas tournaments that are qualifiers for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Mharakurwa, despite not having been involved in any international matches in the last four months, is ranked third in the continent.
At one time he was Africa’s top ranked player but due to lack of participation at the ITF recognised tournaments, he went down on the rankings.
He is one of the few Zimbabwe’s Paralympic Games medal hopefuls.
Mharakurwa’s brilliance in the tennis court has seen him getting a scholarship at the University of Johannesburg and during his spare time he coaches upcoming wheelchair tennis players around Gauteng Province.
Track star Elliot Mujaji won his first medal at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games and his company Shabanie Mine, then a viable organisation, funded his trip.
That is when he got recognition from the corporate world but still struggled to get sponsorship to participate at regional, continental and international events.
Passionate wheelchair basketball player/coach Walter Ndlovu has been at the forefront, searching for corporate support to enable the national team to travel for regional and continental competitions.
Now a star is in the making in the form of budding Bulawayo’s wheelchair tennis player Shepard Banda who is set to tour France where he will compete at the Cruyff Foundation Junior Masters — Les Petits As 2012 from today to 29 January.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) invited the 16-year-old King George Memorial player after seeing him play at last year’s World Team Championships in South Africa.
In an interview with Saturday Leisure during the week, Banda said he was going to represent Zimbabwe with pride.
“The problem is that most people continue to think that people with disabilities cannot do anything. There is a lot that we can do and I believe through sport I can uplift my life as well as be my country’s ambassador. I am happy that I’m going to France to represent my country and I know that I will learn a lot there and I will be able to tell other people about my country.
“The major challenge that I face as an upcoming wheelchair tennis player is that I do not have the right wheelchair to use for the sport. My family has been very supportive but I believe as people with disabilities we also need support from the corporate world,” Banda said.
Banda had a good 2011 season winning the Harare and Bulawayo Junior Open tournaments.
He has set his sights on being the country’s top wheelchair tennis player.
With preparations for the Zimbabwe Paralympic Games set for April in Hwange in progress, all stakeholders are challenged to help sportspersons with disabilities prepare for the Games.
They can help in cash or in kind and that will make a difference in the lives of people living with disabilities.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter