adminAmbassador to Mozambique, Retired Brigadier General Agrippa Mutambara has said.
Rtd Brig Gen Mutambara said this while addressing athletes and officials from Zimbabwe, participating at the 10th edition of the All-Africa Games in Maputo.
The athletes were attending a reception organised for them by the ambassador.
Rtd Brig-Gen Mutambara said that individual greatness was a product of discipline, training and dedication.
He said one of the reasons Zimbabwe had the lowest illiteracy rate in Africa was because the Government made a huge undertaking to develop human resources base.
“The most valuable resource a country can have is it’s people,” said Rtd Brig-Gen Mutambara.
“It is in recognition of this proven truth that our Government invests a lot of money in educating, training and developing it’s human resource.
“We aim as a country to develop one of the most advanced economies in the world, to make health accessible to all our people, to make education a right enjoyed by all our citizens and to mould a society with a sound mind and sound body.
“By dedicating yourselves to rigorous training and maintenance of good social habits, you add value to your individual competencies and lay a solid foundation for your future greatness and success.
“The totalities of all the individual greatness translate into the collective greatness of a nation.”
Rtd Brig-Gen Mutambara said sport was important and called on Zimbabweans never to be found wanting when it came to competition.
“As sportspersons, you were identified as having unique qualities over and above many others who could not meet the criteria to be selected to represent their country,” he said.
“And it is events such as this, the 10th All-Africa Games, that present our nation the opportunity to parade and market your individual competencies in order to earn glory for our great nation.”
The Ambassador challenged the country’s representatives to continue aiming higher in their sporting endeavours.
“Let us not forget the adage ‘a chain is no stronger than it’s weakest link’. Today we have gained experience and earned our nation medals, recognition and honour.
“Tomorrow let us increase the tally of our medals and cause the flag of our great nation to fly high above others.”
Addressing the same gathering, Sport and Recreation Commission director-general, Rtd Colonel Charles Nhemachena, expressed hope that the current Team Zimbabwe could fare better than the squad that took part at the previous edition of the Games in Algeria in 2007.
Ministry of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture official Rev Paul Damasane, SRC vice-chairman Edward Siwela, chef de mission Custom Kachambwa and the entire staff of the Zimbabwe diplomatic mission attended the function.
Online Reporter