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Thabitha Kanengoni-Malinga
It is with great pleasure that the International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup Trophy is in Zimbabwe and pride because of what that means. We are reliably informed that the trophy landed in Victoria Falls yesterday (Tuesday) from Johannesburg, South Africa, and that tonight (Wednesday) it will leave for the next leg of its tour round the world to the United Arab Emirates.
It will subsequently take its last leg to Jamaica and Barbados in the West Indies.
This round-the-world tour is an initiative by the world cricket governing body, the ICC, to take the trophy to all the 14 countries that will compete in the next ICC Cricket World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Zimbabwe is one of the competing countries and will be in Pool B of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup with India, Ireland, Pakistan, South Africa, UAE and the West Indies. Zimbabwe Cricket, the ball is in your court — you have seen the trophy and this confirms that the tournament shall certainly be held.
Your preparations must therefore intensify in earnest.
When this trophy arrives in Melbourne, Australia, on the 6th of November that will just be 100 days before the beginning of the global cricket showcase.
On Saturday, President Mugabe, who incidentally is the Patron of Zimbabwe Cricket, arrived from the United Nations where he addressed the global assembly, which is a testimony of Zimbabwe’s place in the family of nations.
Now the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy is here, which is testimony and confirmation that Zimbabwe is a member of the international sporting family.
This membership is something we hold dearly because the Zimbabwe Government is clear about the role of sport in promoting and strengthening community spirit, peace, healthy living, livelihoods, unity and solidarity in the world.
This is the very reason His Excellency the President was deliberate in creating a whole ministry dedicated to the development and promotion of sport, arts and culture.
Zimbabwe Cricket, thank you for bringing the trophy through Victoria Falls.
This has definitely helped market the holiday resort and boost sports tourism in line with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset).
This gesture also signifies that Zimbabwe is a safe destination and that it subscribes to the values and symbols of the International Cricket Council.
Once more, thank you Zimbabwe Cricket for marketing the Zimbabwe cricket brand worldwide.
My Ministry hopes that this carnival atmosphere with the trophy will build on the festival spirit which we had during last month’s Triangular One-Day International series that included Australia and South Africa and which characterised the recent Zimbabwe Air Show.
I believe that this shall help the Confederation of African Football to favourably consider our bid to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament. Our hosting of the sixth edition of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games in December is further confirmation that Zimbabwe has the capacity to hold international and regional sporting events. How good a place for international sport Zimbabwe is was also confirmed last week when the Confederation of African Rugby awarded us the right to host the 2014 CAR Men Sevens tournament which will take place on the 29th and 30th of next month, here at Harare Sports Club.
It will involve 12 countries.
Thabitha Kanengoni-Malinga is the Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister and was speaking at the ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour ceremony in Harare organised by Zimbabwe Cricket on Wednesday where she was the guest of honour
Online Reporter