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THE Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture on Thursday appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Sport, Arts and Culture for a familiarisation meeting. The meeting was chaired by Temba Mliswa, who is the chairperson of the committee.The Ministry was represented by its Permanent Secretary Thokozile Chitepo and the acting sports director in the Ministry Tendai Tagara.
The Ministry highlighted that they were yet to come up with a budget and do not have money at the moment.
They also said they do not have enough staff as there were only three people that were recognised as employees within the ministry since they were still restructuring.
Other major issues that were highlighted included the need to have a doping centre in the country, especially after some Zimbabwean athletes were caught offside with the latest being Dynamos star Devon Chafa.
But Mliswa said there was need to make funds available to set up the doping centre where a lab to test blood and urine samples was done routinely.
Mliswa said there was need to review the functions of the Sports Commission.
They also touched on the Under-20 Zone Six Games to be hosted by Zimbabwe in December next year, in Bulawayo with concerns being noted on why the Games were put in Bulawayo yet there are better facilities in Harare that were not put into good use.
Mliswa expressed concern over the preparedness of the Ministry for the regional Games as he said it has to be done properly to keep a good image.
He also indicated that there is need to have proper national sports colours although they may be slightly different but there has to be something that is similar to reflect that it’s a Zimbabwean kit.
Mliswa also spoke about Zifa and the problems haunting the national football governing body and the fact that national teams have dismally failed to qualify for the Nations Cup and World Cup.
It was also noted that there was need to involve the corporate world in sport development from the beginning and not only have companies that come to support already established products.
Online Reporter