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Albert Nhamoyebonde—-
It is a welcome development that the President has created a new Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture, instead of continuing with sports administered by the Ministry of Education. Many sports stakeholders had advocated the separation of sport from the education ministry for various reasons.
On the day of swearing in the minister of sport and his deputy, the President remarked that the minister should be happy that the national soccer team had beaten Zambia to qualify for the African Champions tournament slated for South Africa next year.
Why has it been necessary to separate sport from the ministry of education?
Many people may not understand that sport is no longer just a pastime recreation, but an activity with a political statement. The ministry may not be the first of its kind to be set up in Zimbabwe.
There was a ministry of sport at independence in 1980. That ministry was tasked with integrating sport and removing any racial connotations prevalent at the time.
The difference of the new ministry to the old ministry is that, the new ministry faces modern challenges in building sport, not just as a form of recreation and leisure, but to make sport a vehicle to sell the country to the world.
Sport now plays a major role in tourism and it is the reason why countries spend a lot money in hosting international sporting events.
The new minister of sport and his deputy have a major task of changing the present structure of sport where the Sports and Recreation Commission is the governing body under the Sports Act.
The secretariat of the Sports Commission should be transferred to the new ministry. In its place, there should be a Sports Federation set up to take the role of governing sport on behalf of sports associations.
The main reason for this is that a Government body will not get any money from international sports federations to develop sport in the country.
It is known that the sports commission is underfunded because the Government is short of money.
Countries where a sports federation is in charge of sport, the federations get financial support from international bodies and sponsors.
What will happen is that the sports associations will elect members to serve on the Zimbabwe Sports Federation to look after the interests of sports associations in the country.
What will be the role of the Ministry of Sport?
The ministry of sport would play a major role in the provision of sports facilities and liaising with other ministries that could provide such sporting facilities.
Schools shall provide sports facilities for children still at school, while local authorities shall provide recreation centres in their areas for after-school activities.
Ministry of Tourism shall also provide sporting facilities for use by tourists.
Many hotels already have these sporting facilities like tennis courts and golf courses. The ministry of sport should make sure that sporting facilities are available even at mining companies dotted around the country.
What must be understood is that, sport, at competition level should run itself.
The school system is meant to introduce children to sport. The after-school activities are designed to provide recreation to children.
The club system is there to cater for the highly competitive sports enthusiasts to excel in any given sport.
The clubs then make up the sports associations that govern sport for national and international competitions.
There is no way Government can find money to fund all sporting activities in the country.
By its nature, sport is a voluntary activity just like belonging to a church.
Churches, through their voluntary system, are very rich from contributions by their members.
The same should happen to sports.
It is the passion for sport that sees parents, clubs and sporting associations engaged in fundraising activities to support their children and budding sportspersons to represent the country at international competitions.
At present, the nation is basking in the limelight of the national soccer team qualifying for football championships in South Africa next year, and the cricket team has just beaten Pakistan to level the Test series.
Throughout the 33 years of Independence, Zimbabwe has participated at the highest level of sport at the Olympic Games, the World Group Davis Cup for tennis and in Golf world championships.
All these sporting activities have been achieved over the years through the dedication of parents, coaches and administrators in the sports associations.
It is therefore befitting that the sports associations be allowed to set up a Zimbabwe Sports Federation.
What is involved? All what is required is for the minister of sport to repeal the Sports Act and replace the Sports Commission with a Sports Federation.
The ministry will still be overall in charge of sport, but it is the question of funding that must be addressed.
International sporting bodies do not want governments to interfere in the governance of sport.
These international bodies are ready to fund sport in any country as long as the sporting structures follow their rules of operation.
The Zimbabwe Sports Federation, if set up, would receive grants from international bodies to fund sports development and competitions. It is granted that, it is the responsibility of Government to build infrastructures which shall be used for sporting purposes.
The ministry of sport should play a coordinated role to see that sports facilities are available, for school going children and school leavers alike.
Experts in sports associations will be responsible for coaching education and competitions, be they local or international.
Online Reporter