Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
THE Roman Catholic Church Archbishop of Bulawayo Alex Thomas has praised sport’s role in the fight against drug and substance abuse.
The Most Reverend was speaking at the blessings ceremony for the Emmerson Mnangagwa National Sports and Community Development Initiative Shop in Bulawayo on Sunday afternoon.
It is part of Joseph Rego’s Old Mutual Cricket Excellence Centre project providing a wide range of sporting goods.
Once operating in full throttle, the Community Development Initiative will drive nationwide sport development with the provision of cheap sporting equipment and refurbishment of facilities.
Politburo member Elifasi Mashaba was in attendance at the ceremony in which Father Frank Batsirayi of St Mary’s Basillica presided.
Mashaba and Rego, the two directors of the cricket centre are convinced Zimbabwe sport is headed the right direction and believe equipment and facilities are key for the future.
Archbishop Thomas said the opening of the shop is important to youths as they need sport to help them in the fight against alcohol and drug abuse.
“They have taken time to make it happen and it has happened, everything has time, God allows it to happen, he has allowed it to happen,” he said referring to the opening of the shop in the city.
“It is very important for the future of our nation as they are targeting youths,” said the senior cleric.
He said parents were doing their best to educate children but all the efforts were being thwarted by the prevailing situation of youths being afflicted to wrong habits.
“All parents are doing their best to educate them. The current situation is very scary; they are into so many activities like alcohol and drug abuse,” he said.
He said sports activities may help them become better youths, who are physically and mentally fit.
“Through sports activities, they may have physical and mental exercise so that they can forget all about these evils,” he stressed.
He said many talented youths have suddenly become useless and ended up on the streets.
“I am pleased this is going to help them,” said Archbishop Thomas.
Rego said the dream for Zimbabwe sport stays alive, and he is hopeful that the President’s initiative will have long-lasting benefits to the nation in the long run.
Two thousand schools, he said will benefit from the project, the biggest individual sports development to be initiated soon.
