adminFrom Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Harare
VARIOUS stakeholders will this morning gather at a Harare hotel for a workshop that has been called by the recently appointed Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa in conjunction with the Sport and Recreation Commission. Confirming the meeting, meant to come up with milestone resolutions on how and the direction which sport in the country has to take, SRC communications officer Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said delegates are expected to be ready by 7.30am.
“It’s on tomorrow, in fact it is more of a breakfast meeting,” said the supreme sports body spokesperson.
Chief among the issues that will be raised at today’s meeting will be tax rebates that corporate bodies have been calling for over the years.
Sports sponsoring companies have been hard hit by the seemingly stringent policies as they enjoyed no reprieve despite pouring their money into sport.
The operating environment forced many companies with a desire to sponsor sport to decide otherwise or even prefer going to other countries where policies are a bit friendly. Minister Langa assured the business community that his ministry and indeed the Government was willing to listen to their concerns.
“I want to assure them (business) that my ministry will give them a listening ear as we want to take sport forward. I note that there has not been any sound sponsorship of sports in this country and that has to stop,” said Langa.
Besides the business community, national sports associations like Zifa, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (Naaz), National Darts Association of Zimbabwe (Ndaz) among them are expected to attend the workshop. There are hopes that national associations could get
Government funding for international events like is the case with some other countries.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo