Kazembe speaks on sports development

Lawrence Chitumba Correspondent
RECENT failures by various sporting disciplines to qualify for continental and international events such as the Cricket World Cup, the Africa Women Cup of Nations and the Rugby Gold Cup is testimony of the urgent need for the establishment of sports development academies like the one being built in Bindura, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Speaking at the launch and ground-breaking ceremony of Bindura University of Science and Education’s National Sports Academy last week, Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minster Kazembe Kazembe, said his ministry had embarked on vigorous programmes for the resuscitation and development of sport and recreation spaces.

“Recent failures by various sporting disciplines to qualify for continental and international events such as the Cricket World Cup and the Africa Women Cup of Nations as well as the Rugby Gold Cup is testimony of the urgent need for the establishment of a sports development academy like the one being built here,” he said.

“Internationally, the high performance sporting environment has greatly transformed and has become highly competitive, resultantly pressing high demand on us for such technological investment, massive funding, high standards of professionalism and scientific approaches to athlete and coach development.

“My ministry has embarked on a vigorous programme for the resuscitation and development of sport and recreation spaces in areas lacking facilities in order to ensure equal access and distribution of facilities to all our citizens.”

Minister Kazembe said the project resonated with the provisions of the national sports and recreation policy of establishing a specialist sport training institution open to research sport and recreation.

He is that resonated with Section 32 of the national constitution, which envisages that the State must take all practical measures to encourage sporting and recreational activities, including the provision of sporting and recreational facilities for all.

Minister Kazembe said by establishing a sports academy, this would prompt the development of a more professional approach to sport by churning out professional athletes.