daniel chigunwe
Herald Reporter
Youths in Mberengwa East are set to benefit from various initiatives aimed at enabling them to participate in the country’s socio-economic development while keeping them from criminal activities and drug abuse.
The initiative is being spearheaded by businessman and Zanu PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC ) secretary for Health Mberengwa East, Dr Cummins Hove.
To kick-start the process, Dr Hove last week hosted a successful youth sports tournament that attracted participants from across Mberengwa East.
The R12 000 event, dubbed 2023 Youth Champions of Champions Sports Tournament, ran under the theme “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo (a country is developed by its citizins)”.
It is expected to boost the youths’ confidence in their leaders and it also resonates with President Mnangagwa’s thrust of achieving five million votes in the 2023 harmonised elections.
It is also expected to be a major boost in socio-economic development in Mberengwa East and accelerates the fight against drug abuse and donor dependance which is prevalent within the youths.
The crime rate among the youths was also getting high as a result of non productive.
“Most of the youths lack activity and some of them are leaving the country so I realised that one way of bringing them together was for me to call for a sporting gala for all them to participate,” Dr Hove said.
The motivation behind the tournament was the realisation that youth participation in the provincial elections was dismal.
“It was the realisation that in the provincial elections that the youth vote was so low and pathetic in Mberengwa to the extent that only few youths voted way lower than the main wing and women’s league.
“It is against that background that President’s thrust is to mobilise five million votes for 2023 elections and it is our duty as the DCC to bring the youths back to the party and drum up their vote so that we reach the expected target,” he said.
In attendance was Chief Negobe who gave an exhilarating speech exhorting the youths to be aware that they are the caretakers and vanguard of the country’s sovereignty.
He urged that they is need for unity and discipline while emphasis on forgiveness and tolerance
“Respect for oneself and everyone also helps us. Let us support people in the party leadership genuinely, in that way we will be supporting President Mnangagwa.
All the attendees, including the elderly, were provided with free medical treatment and an assortment of drugs from doctors and nurses who were present.
Drugs worth US$700 were dispensed to the beneficiaries during the tournament.
Dr Hove recently partnered Mberengwa Rural District Council along with fellow businessman Mr Tasara Hungwe, in the rehabilitation of a 32km Zvomukonde-Ngungumbane road which was in a dilapidated state after being damaged by heavy rains.
The road is strategic as it links Mberengwa East to Mberengwa South constituency where the Grain Marketing Board is situated.
Its damage adversely affected free flow of grain deliveries and other essentials like medicines.
This development complemented government’s Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme that is being carried out nationwide.
Winners of the tournament walked away with prize money sport uniforms and balls.
Entertainment was provided Chief Shumba famed for the ‘ED Pfee’ song and he churned out a variety of revolutionary songs from his discography.
Online Reporter