Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE City of Mutare will host the potentially exciting 7th edition of the annual Inter Municipalities Games – dubbed the battle of the municipalities – which will kick off tomorrow (Saturday) and come to an end on Sunday.
Twelve (12) local authorities are taking part in this year’s edition, including Harare, Chitungwiza, Bindura, Marondera, Masvingo, Kwekwe, Kadoma, Karoi, Chegutu, Ruwa, Norton, and Mutare, who are the hosts.
The theme of this year’s edition of the games is: “Sports as a vehicle for social inclusion, building a healthy workforce and reducing drug and substance abuse”. Various indoor and outdoor sporting disciplines will be hosted at different venues around Mutare, including Sakubva Stadium, Chisamba Ground, Sakubva Courts, Chinyausunzi Grounds, Beithall, Hillside Golf Club, Florida Social Centre, Sakubva Primary School Grounds, and Main Baths. Some of the sporting disciplines in which participants will be competing include netball, football, tug-of-war, darts, pool, volleyball, athletics, and swimming. In an interview, Mutare City Council Town Clerk, Blessing Chafesuka said the aim of the games is to promote wellness and health among municipalities’ staff members.
Chafesuka said there is also a business dimension to the games, whereby the relaxed atmosphere offers an ideal environment for attendees from different sectors of the economy and participants to exchange ideas, network, and market their services.
“The idea is to have a healthy staff. This is a way of promoting health and wellness of council employees through sport. Mutare is hosting the games for the first time in their seven-year history.
“There is also a business dimension to the games whereby the relaxed atmosphere offers an ideal environment for attendees from different sectors of the economy and participants to exchange ideas, network, and market their services,” he said.
Chafesuka also gave a background of the preparations that have been done ahead of the inter-municipalities games.
“In terms of preparations, all venues are 100 percent ready, and the accreditation process of participants has been going on well. We are ready for the event. The games will start on Saturday (tomorrow) and end with an opening and closing ceremony on Sunday at Sakubva Stadium, where everyone is welcome. There will be music and entertainment from local artists,” he said.
