adminIn a speech read on her behalf by Acting Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister Webster Shamu at the official opening of the IOC-Anoca Senior Women Sports Administrators’ Forum, Mujuru said sport needs the participation of women.
She said women had the passion not only for sport but unity, peace, fair play and tolerance.
Today there is no doubt that women’s participation in sport is essential for a healthy society in general and for the future of sport in particular.
“Sport needs women and their participation, not only because they represent half of humanity, but also because they play an essential role in society, especially in passing on the values I alluded earlier.
“Other important values shared include friendship, respect and excellence,” said Mujuru.
“Sport is a mirror of society as well as an extraordinary tool for social change, providing a tremendous medium of communication which can help build a girl’s and women’s physical and psychological well being.
“With enhanced personal awareness, women can step up and take on new roles in society.
“Given that sport has been traditionally perceived as a male domain, women and girls’ participation in sport also challenges gender stereotypes and has potential for reducing discrimination and breaking down entrenched attitudes.
“My sincere hope and belief is that once a woman is empowered especially in sport, society has benefited. Olympic values are in harmony with humanity,” said Mujuru.
The Vice President said, as a country, Zimbabwe will continue to strive to ensure that sport was accessible to everyone.
“As Zimbabweans we will continue to strive to reach out and make sport accessible to all regardless of ability, colour, gender and creed.
“I am aware of the efforts by the IOC to promote women in sport, specifically the establishment of targets for women’s membership in executive committees of National Olympic Committees,” said Mujuru.
Mujuru thanked the International Olympic Committee for giving Zimbabwe the opportunity to host the women’s forum as it will show how this country values women empowerment.
Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (Anoca) president, Lassana Palenfo, said the meeting was important in preparing for the IOC World Conference on Women and Sport.
“The IOC convene a world conference every four years and before the conference, Anoca convene a conference for the specific commission to prepare for the world conference to prepare a presentation to articulate the African position that can be presented at that conference.
“This conference is meant to assess and evaluate the track record of Africa and how we can chart the way forward,” said Palenfo.
Palenfo said he was happy with the progress they were making in involving women in sport.
“The picture of Africa is very good in terms of women in the executive (in National Olympic Committees).
“We have beaten the IOC prescription on 20 percent. We are number one in terms of presidents and we tie with Europe in terms of the secretaries-general,” said Palenfo.
Chairperson for the ANOCA Women and Sport Commission, Beatrice Allen, encouraged women to take up leadership positions in sport.
“The problems are there, but we don’t have to run away,” said Allen.
The meeting is being attended by the top women leadership of sport in the continent and yesterday’s opening ceremony was attended by British Ambassador, Deborah Bronnert, the hosts of London 2012 Olympic
Games and the Deputy Minister of Education Sports, Art and Culture, Lazarus Dokora.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter