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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
The revival of dilapidated sporting facilities in the defunct former mining settlement of Mhangura is expected to help fight rampant drug abuse in the area.
This came out on Saturday during an indaba to revive sporting activities in the area.
Various sporting legends, including yesteryear soccer star, Alois Bunjira, urged talented youths not to wait for the refurbishment of facilities, saying great names in sport came from humble beginnings.
Some of top names from Mhangura Queens netball legends were part of the indaba to inspire the youth.
The indaba, which took place at Mhangura Sports and Recreational Centre, was also attended by Mhangura community members and their leaders and Government officials.
Mhangura sports coordinator, Mr Nickson Maguvaza, said there was generally a lack of entertainment facilities in the area resulting in drug and sexual abuse and thuggery.
“This is a meeting to revive all sport codes in Mhangura,” he said. “National Development Strategy 1 speaks to infrastructure development.
“We have sporting infrastructure which need to be spruced up, like what is happening at Gwanzura Stadium. So, we are making a clarion call to the President to remember Mhangura. We want to revive sports in Mhangura.”
Provincial sports and recreational officer, Mr Trust Gogwe, said the Second Republic had dedicated funding through devolution so that all parts of the country were developed.
He said devolution funds were also supposed to be used for the refurbishment of sporting facilities.
Makonde Rural District Council has prioritised education, health and road infrastructure development using devolution funds, with its 2022 budget of $1,2 billion also targeting those areas.
Most of the sports infrastructure has been surrendered to Makonde Rural District Council by the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation since the closure of Mhangura Copper Mines in 2000, hence the call for the local authority to use devolution funds to refurbish the facilities.
In her remarks, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Deputy Minister Jennifer Mhlanga, applauded the community for initiating the revival of sports in the constituency.
She promised Government support.
“What you have started is in line with our President’s vision,” she said. “We are leaving no place and no one behind. There is abundance of talent in Mhangura.”
Before the indaba, attendees toured the deplorable sporting facilities at the centre that have become white elephants.
A swimming pool has now been turned into a fish pond, while bowling club is now a pre-school, with a squash hall now occupied by some tenants.
A darts hall has been converted into a church hall.
Online Reporter