Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
A HEALTHY and resilient public service is critical to Zimbabwe’s development ambitions, with physical fitness, mental well-being and workplace solidarity essential to building a productive workforce capable of driving Vision 2030, Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi has said.
VP Mohadi said this in a speech read on his behalf yesterday by Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe at the official opening and closing ceremony of the seventh edition of the Inter-Ministerial Sports and Arts Festival at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda.
Held under the theme; “Healthy Nation, Productive Workforce,” the festival brought together hundreds of civil servants from across the country for sporting and cultural competitions.
VP Mohadi said Government, through its national development agenda, was prioritising the development of a healthy, astute and productive workforce to drive national development and achieve set goals.
“A healthy workforce is an astute and productive workforce, and is very critical for any nation, developing or developed. Such a workforce is the handmaiden to the attainment of set national aspirations and goals,” he said.
“As the executors of state policy and implementers of Government programmes, and as civil servants, you bear the fundamental responsibility of fostering national wellness and happiness.”
The Vice President said physical well-being, mental fitness and creativity were not only important for individual civil servants, but also contributed to productivity, teamwork, discipline and excellence in the public service.
He said civil servants remained central to realising the aspirations of the Second Republic and attaining Vision 2030.
VP Mohadi said initiatives such as the Inter-Ministerial Sports and Arts Festival also support the Whole-of-Government approach by encouraging ministries and development agencies to work together rather than operate in silos.
“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,” he said.
VP Mohadi said the festival is strategically aligned with 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.
VP Mohadi said participation in sporting and artistic activities helped civil servants develop resilience, discipline and stamina, as well as the temperament required to effectively discharge their duties.
He also called on the private sector to emulate Government’s workplace wellness initiatives.
“The Vice President urged corporates and other private players to emulate such programmes, saying Government seeks to develop an energised workforce capable of meeting the rigorous demands of 21st century public administration,” he said.
VP Mohadi said Government was therefore facilitating the development of multipurpose sports facilities in rural areas as part of efforts to promote mass participation and widen access to sporting infrastructure.
“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.
Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Anselem Sanyatwe, in a speech read on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Nicholas Moyo, said sport and recreational activities helped create a working environment based on teamwork, mutual respect and stress reduction.
He said the benefits ultimately extended to public service delivery and collaboration between Government institutions.
“Sport serves as an essential therapeutic outlet, a builder of resilience and a vital catalyst for social cohesion and holistic wellness among our workforce. As a Ministry, we recognise that the benefits of sport must not be confined to urban centres or exclusive clubs,” he said.
The festival, which was hosted by Gwanda, kicked off on September 11 and featured a range of sporting disciplines, including football, athletics, volleyball, chess, darts and tug of war.
Arts and culture were also showcased through competitions in modelling, choir, Nharire Yomusha performances and the National Fabric Fashion Show.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development emerged overall champions after winning seven gold, 11 silver and three bronze medals.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care finished second with six gold, one silver and two bronze medals, while the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education came third with four gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
