Chronicle EditorEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Olympic Committee president Admire Masenda yesterday said work at the Epworth Olympafrica Centre is expected to begin within the next three months following the ground-breaking ceremony in Epworth yesterday.
The project is the brainchild of one of Epworth’s illustrious sons, Musekiwa Kumbula, who approached the Epworth Local Board with the idea of setting up the Olympafrica Centre in the town before they got into a partnership with ZOC.
The project is going to be funded by the International Olympic Committee through the Olympafrica Foundation and will be managed by ZOC and supported by the relevant local authorities.
ZOC signed a long-term lease agreement with the Epworth Local Board in June 2014, which facilitated the sourcing of support to establish a multi-disciplinary sport and cultural centre.
Masenda said they have set up a committee together with the local board to oversee the commencement of the construction of the centre.
“In the next 90 days you will see some activity taking place here. We have set up a committee between us and the local board and we will have to decide what goes down first. And it will be a decision of what we think will have the greatest impact.
“So, that is the decision we now have to make because we have the initial funding, $150 000. There is also the walling to be done and we expect the local people, the people of Epworth to be a part of it. If we are putting up a wall, they will have to come up with the bricks, we will supply the cement.
“And even in constructing some of the things we expect them to be involved in terms of just working on the site as their contribution,” said Masenda.
Masenda said the project expected to cost over $500 000 will be completed in the next five years.
“I think two to five years. It’s a big project. It’s a question of how we fund it and who is funding. And I think once the basics are up, you then start filling up the other bits and it’s a question of who we lobby, who comes on board and helps us fund them. So I say two to five years.
“I think in the first two years the basics will be in place, all other things will be attached thereafter. So once we have done the basics probably there will be a handover or an opening ceremony, once we have done the basics and we continue.
“But what is critical is sustainability. So we will need to partner with people on a year to year basis, providers with resources to be able to keep people employed working on the site and that’s going to be very key,” said Masenda.
Guest of honour at the ceremony, Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Saviour Kasukuwere said the construction of the centre was a big development for Epworth.
“We want to thank the (National) Olympic Committee, ZOC and Anoca for the support you have given us. We also thank our local board for setting aside this land for the development of an Olympic Centre in Epworth. I think this is another big development here in Epworth after a long time.
“We want to say to the Olympic Committee thank you for the partnership you have brought. We thank you for uplifting Epworth.
“Epworth requires a lot of support, it’s a place that has been there for a long time as a settlement, but there wasn’t much that was being done for the people.
“We thank the companies here, my dear brother (Musekiwa) Kumbula for the initiative and support. Let’s do more than what we have done today for our people. Let’s empower our people in places like Epworth,” Kasukuwere said.
The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhosini Hlongwane and Kasukuwere said it is the availability of such facilities that will unlock the talent within communities.
And he pledged his ministry’s support in the development of sport in this country.
“Minister (Hlongwane) our partnership to promote grassroots sport development must continue to grow from strength to strength. It’s a must that our young people have recreational facilities. In terms of our Zim-Asset programme this is exactly what we are focusing on,” Kasukuwere said.
There were delays after the land that had been set aside for the purpose was invaded by illegal settlers last year. However, the dispute over the land was resolved and Kasukuwere yesterday said those affected will be relocated in farms around Epworth.
Hlongwane said they are grateful to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and the Epworth Local Board for donating the land.
“We take very seriously the concept of sport for all. We take very seriously at the Ministry of Sport and Recreation the concept of grassroots sport and we take very seriously the concept of mass sport.
“One of the things that have continued to arrest our development as a sport sector in the country is our absence in the community.
“Absence at the level of organised sport, but also absence at the level of the availability and provision of infrastructures to support the development of sport and recreation
“And this is a crucial intervention coming as it is at this juncture to be able to deal with the development of sport in the townships and in this particular instance in Epworth,” said Hlongwane.
Member of Parliament for Epworth, Zalera Makari, said the development will go a long way not only in developing sport, but in uniting the community.
The centre will comprise a sport selection including a basic athletic track, a football pitch, multi-purpose court — that’s for handball, basketball, volleyball and tennis — as well as a changing-room block.
It will also have a cultural component including offices for the director and volunteer staff, a youth foyer, a multi-purpose room to host conferences, concerts and shows, a library and workshops for practical work.
Zimbabwe was first included in the Olympafrica Foundation in 2009 through the Olympic Sports Centre based at Prince Edward School. Since then they have been benefiting from short projects that are run by the Foundation.
Yesterday’s event was also attended by Anoca secretary-general, Tommy Sithole, who is also a board member of the Olympafrica Foundation, ZOC vice-president, Busi Chindove, chief executive Anna Mguni and Epworth Local Board chairperson, Tafireyi Murambidzi.
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