Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango-Zimpapers Sports Hub
SPORT, Recreation, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Emily Jesaya said sport has the transformative power to shape the lives of young people and a more inclusive nation.
She was speaking at the Safe Sport Summer Sport Festival 2025 held at Goromonzi High last Friday, high-lighting the importance of creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for athletes to thrive. The festival brings together hundreds of young athletes from across the country.
“We are not merely celebrating sports, we are reaffirming its power as a unifying force, a builder of character, and a catalyst for national development,” said Jesaya.
“The Safe Sport Festival is more than a competition, it is a powerful declaration. It is a platform for inclusion, protection and empowerment, reminding us that every young boy, girl, woman and person with a dis-ability has a rightful and respected place on the playing field.”
Jesaya praised the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sport, and other stakeholders for their efforts.
She said there is a need for a seamless pipeline from grassroots participation to high-performance excellence.
“The journey to becoming a world-class athlete does not begin on an Olympic track; it begins on fields like this one, at festivals like this one. What we are witnessing today is the very foundation of our national sporting pyramid,” she said.
“We are committed to creating policies and investing in infrastructure that will build a seamless pipeline from grassroots participation to high-performance excellence. Together, we will continue to build a sporting environment that is safe, inclusive, empowering and, ultimately, victorious for all Zimbabweans.”
Chairman of the Safeguarding Child Protection Inclusivity and Vulnerable Communities at ZOC, Tawanda Sithole, said their goal is to promote a safe and inclusive environment for athletes.
“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other private partners have been working to address is-sues that affect the integrity of sports, and we’re committed to being part of the solution.
“These issues don’t just affect athletes but also officials, coaches, sponsors and everyone involved in the sporting process. By working together, we can create a fair and respectful environment that allows everyone to thrive,” he said.
Visionary Cadres Association of Zimbabwe executive committee member Mthokozisi Mabhena said such initiatives help against the surge of drug abuse in the youths.
“We are worried about the surge of drug abuse. I am happy that the Summer Sports Festival is putting the young people together and getting them refocused on other productive things through harnessing sports, which reduces lazy time; hence, the youth having less time for thinking about doing drugs,” said Mabhena.
