Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Government is expanding public participation in sports to combat drug and substance abuse in communities, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister, Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, made the remarks on the sidelines of his ministry’s five-day strategic planning workshop in Nyanga early this week.
Sanyatwe said idleness drives many people towards substance abuse, making athletic engagement vital.
“The role of sports, one of the pillars of the ministry, is huge. There is a saying that if you do not keep your subordinates busy, they will end up designing tasks for themselves. They will end up finding programmes that can occupy their time. If you do not keep your nation, especially the young generation, busy, eventually they will be left with very little progressive and meaningful programmes to undertake.
“Now sports come in to keep our people, especially the youth, busy by participating in meaningful sporting programmes. All sporting codes inclusive. You will then realise and witness that all the way to the grassroots, from the districts and wards, we want to have any sporting activity being undertaken.
“The idea is that as we keep them busy, they will not have the time to think of drug and substance abuse. The aim is to have a drug free society even though we know it will be an uphill task,” said Sanyatwe.
He cited the reopening of the National Sports Stadium as a major accomplishment for the sector this year following extensive renovations.
“In terms of major achievements attained in the Year 2026, I am proud to report that the National Sports Stadium has been reopened following the completion of extensive refurbishment works. I am particularly delighted to announce that the facility has now achieved Category Three status, meeting international standards that will enable us to host major continental and global sporting events. This achievement is not merely about infrastructure, it is about restoring our nation’s pride and positioning Zimbabwe as a premier destination for international sport. These achievements are not merely successes of this Ministry, they are victories for the people of Zimbabwe. They demonstrate that when we invest strategically, consult widely and act decisively, we can deliver tangible results that improve lives and restore national pride,” said Sanyatwe, also detailing core priorities for officials attending the Nyanga planning session:
“As we undertake this strategic planning process, I wish to draw your attention to several priorities that must guide our deliberations and subsequent implementation: We must strengthen implementation and accountability; We must unlock the economic potential of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture; We must prioritise infrastructure development and talent development; We must ensure inclusive and equitable access and we must strengthen partnerships and coordination,” he said.
Additionally, Sanyatwe congratulated the Zimbabwe national rugby team for defeating Namibia at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday.
A large crowd turned out to support the senior team, and the Sables responded with a 36-33 victory over their neighbours before one of their largest home crowds in recent memory.
Sport takes centre stage in war against drug abuse
