‘Sport a powerful vehicle for peace, development’

Faith Mandizha

DEPUTY Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Tino Machakaire, said sport is a strong vehicle for promoting development and peace.

Officiating at a validation workshop on sport for development and peace training in Harare yesterday, he said their mandate as a Ministry is to promote fitness and wellness, as well as social interaction in communities, through sport.

“It is pleasing to note that we can now use sport to build a peaceful society combined with preservation of human dignity.

“Sport can now be used to promote sustainable development and peace. 

“Sport is also a great factor of integration, and can link people with the community regardless of social, racial or political background. 

“Sport is based on non-discrimination and sport stands for understanding.”

He added:

“Sport can change the world, but it cannot do it alone, we need partnerships with other players in society. 

“In such partnerships like this validation workshop organised by the UN, sport can bring its values to life, development and peace.

“The toolkit on sport for development and peace can be used to unify, build peace, respect and enforce dialogues in communities and countries.”

He emphasised that sport cannot be expected to play a pivotal role in the New Dispensation unless sports leaders change their attitudes.

“Gone are the days when sport was viewed as a social pass time activity; the inclusion of sport in the Sustainable Development Goals and Zimbabwe National Development Strategy 1 signifies the importance of sport,” he said.

Permanent Secretary for Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Thokozile Chitepo chipped in saying sport raises the confidence and well-being of participants and empowers all segments of society, including the marginalised.

“History has shown that sport has the power to promote tolerance and to reconcile communities in conflict. 

“Sport can provide momentary truce and stability, thus sport can be channelled to promote development and peace.

“The popularity of sport and athletes lends itself to role modelling of positive values which can contribute to development and peace.”