Region 5 Games: President Mugabe opts to give games quality time

Fungai Muderere, Chronicle Sports Reporter

MINISTER of Sport, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa has said President Mugabe decided to give more quality time to the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games and people of Bulawayo hence the postponement of the official opening ceremony of the games to Sunday.

President Mugabe was initially set to officially the sixth edition of Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games at the new-look Barbourfields Stadium on Thursday.

“His Excellency has decided to give more quality time to the young athletes and people of Bulawayo as he considers these Games of utmost importance to the unity of the nation and region. Had he come to open the games on Thursday he was going to be without us from 9am to 11am,”said Minister Langa.

Minister Langa said on Sunday the opening ceremony will start at 2pm and President Mugabe will be in the City of Kings and Queens up to 6pm to spend quality time with the athletes and people of Bulawayo.

“This gesture and consideration is great and we thank His Excellency for it. This being the case I extend an invitation to all Zimbabweans and Bulawayans to converge at Barbourfields Stadium. As early as 11am they should be sitted. We need to show who we are as Zimbabweans. We need to show people that Zimbabwe is safe, no-one will be harmed,” said Minister Langa.

The opening ceremony will feature a colourful artistic presentation and display by 3 000 artistes after which President Mugabe will kick star a women’s football match.

More to follow