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Sports Reporter—
SPORTS and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane says movement of equipment bought for the Africa Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games is limited to office furniture and not sporting accessories. In a statement yesterday, Hlongwane said the Government’s position was that no sports equipment would be relocated from Bulawayo under any circumstances, adding that furniture bought for the Games was not part of the Legacy Plan as it had been earmarked for the ministry. Concern had been raised over the removal of equipment as the Government had clearly stated it would remain in Bulawayo after the Games ended.
“The interest generated around these assets is indeed welcome as it amply demonstrates that the aforementioned Games left an indelible mark within the citizenry of Bulawayo in general and the sporting fraternity in particular. It is, therefore, important to comment on such an issue based on facts accompanied by balanced commentary from all interested parties in order to avoid renditions that might inflame emotions and, inadvertently, sully the intended historical legacy of the Games,” read part of the statement.
Our sister paper Chronicle yesterday carried a story to the effect that senior officials from the Ministry of Sport wanted to move the furniture and other equipment acquired for the Games to Harare. The revelations followed a leaked internal memo issued by an assistant deputy director (administration) only identified as T Mafondokoto to the Permanent Secretary requesting to transfer the items which he said would be used in the office of the minister, his Permanent Secretary, principal director, four directors and seven deputy directors all based in Harare.
“I would like to reiterate that no sport equipment will be relocated from Bulawayo under any pretext in tandem with Government’s stated position on this matter. Further, there is adequate paper trail to show that various sporting disciplines have benefited and continue to benefit without hindrance form the sport equipment and infrastructure that is an integral part of the Games Legacy Plan,’’ said Hlongwane.
“Furniture bought for the Games was not part of the Legacy Plan as it was explicitly earmarked for the then Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture. When the Ministry of Sport and Recreation was established in September 2015, de jure and administratively it became the successor Government entity and in charge of assets of the defunct Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture and by extension the intended recipient of furniture purchased for the Games,” he said.
“It is pertinent to observe that the list reproduced by the Chronicle, there is no item that falls under the category of ‘infrastructure and sport equipment’ thus indicating our earlier premise. The conflation of sport equipment with furniture has regrettably conveyed an inaccurate picture to the general public.’’
Bulawayo hosted the AUSC Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games in December 2014. List of furniture and equipment sent to Harare as published by Chronicle yesterday:
Minister’s Office
2 Lounge Suites, 3x 60 inch colour television, 1x 6 drawer cabinet (lockable) 1 x HP laptop, 3x DSTV decoder
Permanent Secretary’s office
2x Lounge Suite, 1x 60 inch colour television, 1x coffee table, 2x wooden cabinet-6 drawer (lockable), 1x executive desk, 1x boardroom table, 2x visitors’ chairs, 12x padded chairs, 1x DSTV decoder, 1x HP laptop, 3x surge protectors, 1x printer Pro 400
Principal director and Four directors
5x Lounge suites, 5x swivel chairs, 5x executive desks, 5x 40 inch colour television, 5×4 drawer cabinets (lockable), 10x visitors chairs, 5x HP laptops, 5x HP printers, 5x Fern, 5x surge protectors, 5x DSTV decoders, 5x refrigerators
Seven deputy directors
7x swivel chairs,7x executive desks, 7x 4 drawer cabinets( lockable), 14x visitors chairs, 7x HP laptops, 7x surge protectors, 7x small refrigerators
Reception:
1x lounge suit, 1×60 inch colour television, 1x DSTV decorder, 1x surge protector
Boardroom
1x 60 inch colour television, 1x DSTV decorder, 2x surge protectors
General-for cleaning purposes
5x vacuum cleaners (hoover), 10x hard brooms, 900 tissues, 20 x visitors chairs for other offices
Deputy director- southern region
1x swivel chairs, 1x executive drawer, 1x 4 drawer cabinet (lockable), 1x visitors chair, 1x HP laptop, 2x surge protectors, 1 x small refrigerator.
Bongani Ndlovu