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Tirivashe Nheweyembwa, the SRC corporate communications officer, said they were keen on upholding standards and making their awards a true representation of Zimbabwean sport.
The SRC spokesperson said Government was keen on ensuring that anyone representing Zimbabwe at every level, be it a sportsperson or administrator, was a citizen of this country.
“We will soon table a draft policy on awards. It will have to be a clear path that Government is happy about and protects the sportsperson too as it would articulate the standing position of the SRC.
“This will be communicated to sports associations so that we read from the same script,” said Nheweyembwa.
He said they were also keen on setting a standard position for all national associations on the awarding of national colours.
“National colours should not be given out like charity, these are a serious honour bestowed on an athlete or administrator for service to a particular discipline.
“When one wears the blazer in whatever sport, it has to be a set criteria similar to one used by all other national associations or provincial associations in the event of provincial colours,” said the SRC spokesperson.
National colours are often a green blazer with an emblem of the association in national flag colours.
Another factor about colours Nheweyembwa emphasised, was that Zimbabwe needed to adopt similar colours for all national associations.
“We do not want to see our teams putting on blue, red, black, maroon and some funny colours. If we resolve that Zimbabwe is yellow and green, it would have to be that across all the disciplines, look at South Africa and Australia, they are clear on their colours for all their sports.
“If you get to an international event or watch on television, you can easily identify that the two taking part in the event are from the same country,” said Nheweyembwa.
Every Zimbabwean citizen, he said, had a right to represent the country. He said clubs and associations were expected to send their teams to the SRC before any tour so that issues of citizenship could be addressed.
“We do not want to see our teams in foreigners hands before we sanction that. There are people with permits to work here, they have to be cleared to travel with our teams in whatever capacity as they are not Zimbabweans. We want to be represented by our own nationals,” said the SRC man.
Nheweyembwa was at the SRC quarterly meeting in Harare last week where national associations reviewed their first six months with the Government sports body.
He said associations were expected to seek clearance from the SRC 30 days before the holding of any international event .
The SRC spokesperson said corporate governance was crucial to the future of sport.
He added that audited statements and constitutions were the way forward for clubs and associations.
Online Reporter