adminBukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
THE creation of a separate sports ministry has resulted in provinces struggling to raise affiliation fees for the 13th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games. Previously it was part of the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture. Officials told Chronicle Sport that education officials were reluctant to sanction fundraising activities at schools arguing that sport was now run by a separate ministry, despite the fact that pupils were still involved.
“We’ve noted that provinces are failing to fundraise because some headmasters or education officials are denying them fundraising programmes and this has badly affected the provinces’ preparations,” said a Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) official who requested anonymity.
Only two provinces, Bulawayo and Matabeleland North have so far paid part of their affiliation fees.
The failure by provinces to pay affiliation fees has seen the local organising committee of the Games shifting athletics from Sakubva Stadium to Hillcrest College after they failed to raise the $380,000 needed for the stadium’s refurbishment.
The commission had asked Mutare City Council to provide the quotation of the refurbishment process hoping that the participating provinces would have paid 50 percent of their affiliation fees by June 30.
Initially, Hillcrest College was their first choice but organisers were forced to shift base after consulting Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Mandi Chimene who decided that Sakubva was more preferable as it was going to be easily accessible to the public.
SRC spokesperson Tirivashe Nheweyembwa confirmed the change of base yesterday.
“We would like to appeal to all provinces to pay up their fees on time.
“They’ve to pay before the actual date so that the local organising committee will have time to procure all the necessary items on time,” he said.
The SRC pegged the participation fees at $80 per athlete.
This year’s edition will have 11 provinces with the government through the SRC bringing in Manica Province from neighbouring Mozambique.
Selected athletes will visit the Chimoio mass graves as a cultural exchange initiative.
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo