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THE chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, Temba Mliswa, has stirred controversy by undermining the capabilities of the City of Bulawayo to host the Sixth edition of the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games.
Speaking during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture in Harare on Thursday last week, the former Zimbabwe Warriors fitness trainer reportedly raised concerns on why the Games were brought to Bulawayo instead of Harare which had better facilities that were not being put to good use.
The Games will be held in Bulawayo in December next year following a cabinet decision to bring the Games to the second largest city in the country with the government undertaking to fund the extravaganza to the tune of $46 million.
Bulawayo Residents Association secretary Samuel Moyo said they wondered whether some legislators ever viewed Bulawayo as part of Zimbabwe or to them Zimbabwe was Harare only.
“Why can’t they see these Games as an opportunity to develop Bulawayo so that it also has the same facilities as those that are being glorified in Harare? We are worried when a national leader thinks like that, does he know that Bulawayo is also part of Zimbabwe?” said Moyo.
He said leaders should be disabused of the notion that everything national should happen in Harare.
“We are for the development of Bulawayo and are these people also aware that the Khumalo Hockey Stadium was built for use during the 1995 All-Africa Games? These are some of the developments that we as residents of Bulawayo want but to have a leader questioning why such important Games were brought to Bulawayo really gets us worried,” said Moyo.
A member of the Local Organising Committee who asked for anonymity, said: “It’s really unfortunate that a man in his position expressed such ignorance about these Games. Their coming here was a full cabinet decision and who really can question such a decision?”
At the Portfolio Committee meeting, the Ministry was represented by its Permanent Secretary Thokozile Chitepo and the acting sports director, Tendai Tagara.
Chitepo confirmed meeting Mliswa but said she could only discuss more on the issue once she gets time. “I am a bit busy today so please call me some other time,” she said.
Addressing journalists after a tour of the facilities to be used during the Games, Minister Andrew Langa said the Games were in Bulawayo courtesy of President Mugabe. Local organising committee chief executive officer Henry Manzungu said while he would not comment on what transpired during the Thursday meeting, his committee was working flat out to have a successful sporting event in Bulawayo next year.
“We are just implementing a policy decision that was made at cabinet level. As far as we are concerned these Games are in Bulawayo because a decision has already been passed at the highest level for that matter. The government has assured us, the nation and indeed the region of its full support,” said Manzungu.
There have always been thinly veiled attempts to discredit Bulawayo ahead of the Games with some officials overhead criticising the decision to bring the Games to Bulawayo during the Zimbabwe National Youth Games in August.
Online Reporter