Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
HINGWE Primary School in Bulilima West was a hive of activity at the weekend as five netball teams battled it out in a tournament organised by Bulilima West legislator and Deputy Minister of Information Communication Technologies, Postal and Courier Services Dingumuzi Phuti.
The competition was held in honour of the girl child in the constituency.
The teams that took part were Mangubo, Bambadzi, Mboyi, Hingwe and Vulindlela.
They were handpicked from the constituency.
All teams received a kit, sanitary wear and a ball in the competition that also saw each team walk away with prize money according to their rankings.
Mangubo were crowned the champions after they beat Hingwe 45-30 in the final. Prior to that they had won 31-10 against Mboyi.
Hingwe also managed to get wins against Bambadzi, winning 33-30 and 40-7 against Vulindlela.
The guest of honour Eveyln Ndlovu, who is the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education represented by Beatrice Manjere, Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director said:
“We are gathered here for a netball tournament which is not usual because most of the time people gather for a soccer tournament of which today it’s about a girl child.
“As the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, we follow the competency-based new curriculum and what is happening today is Physical Education which is one of our learning areas.
Netball is common both in urban and rural areas.
“I’m impressed by the performance from some girls. It shows that a girl child has got talent. There is one girl who was a shooter and she is pregnant at the same time.
Some people in her situation fail to even walk but she was energetic and playing well.
“It is important to know that exercise is really necessary, we need it.
This girl knows her lifestyle, she’s supposed to live as a pregnant woman, therefore we want resilient women like her and when you encounter problems, you look for solutions.
“As women, let’s all stand up for each other and try to involve ourselves in some projects so that we become independent. Do not get derailed, especially young girls at school.
“I would like to thank our Honourable MP Dingumuzi Phuthi for such good work in partnership among NetOne and TelOne for realising women and young girls in our community, it’s such a good gesture,” said Minister Ndlovu.
Deputy Minister Phuti said: “As Bulilima community, we saw it fit for the girl child to have their netball tournament so that they know they are very important.
That’s why we asked for a netball tournament so that we could gather and watch their different talents.
“The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa asked us to do so that they may not be left behind.
He has expressed this through involving women in higher positions so that they can be recognised.
“This tournament also follows First Lady Dr Auxilia Mnangagwa’s vision of women empowerment projects which uplift them and that is why our guest of honour today is also a woman.”
NetOne Southern Region manager Elma Dube said: “We are here as NetOne to support our Honourable Minister who is a hardworking man in the constituency.
“We are here to celebrate the girl child because we know that when we empower a girl child we empower the nation.
We have brought the little that we have for our girls and not everyone’s a winner, those who participated are going to get something.”
NetOne sponsored the kits, balls and sanitary wear.
They also donated food hampers to the community.
— @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter