Time to kick-start Zone Six Games preparations

Sikhumbuzo Moyo
IT might just be a little over a year before the country plays host to the biggest youth competition in the region, the Zone Six Games, but already the road to the sporting extravaganza has started. A local organising committee which is led by Charles Dzimba and avid golfer and businessman Henry Manzungu who is the committee’s chief executive officer, has already been put in place while on the technical side, Team Zimbabwe already has a Chef De Mission, headed by a Bindura University lecturer Eugenia Chidakwa.

Last week Team Zimbabwe concluded its selection process for its coaches and their identities will be made public anytime next week.
In Bulawayo there seems to be little activity on the ground to suggest that the city will play host to such an important regional sporting showpiece.

The hype must start now so that the generality of the city begins to understand the impact of these Games and what they can do to their lives.

On 8 November, a council of Ministers’ meeting will be held in this city with the 2014 Zone Six Games forming part of the agenda and that on its own shows how important these Games are being viewed by the different Heads of State in the zone.

There is a need for the marketing and publicity committee to start its work so that the organising committee moves along with the local people. The earlier billboards are erected with campaign messages for these Games the better.

All entry points to the City from Beitbridge, Victoria Falls, Joshua Mqabuko International Airport, Plumtree, Harare must tell the visitor that Bulawayo will be playing host to the Zone Six Games, soon to be known as the African Union Sport Development Region Five.
The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa, has already assured the regional body’s secretary-general that Zimbabwe will be more than ready for the Games in terms of set deadlines.

With over 4 000 athletes expected, the Games will surely leave an indelible mark in Bulawayo with some unemployed youths likely to be given jobs especially during upgrading of infrastructure that will be used. New accommodation hostels will be built at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust). The hostels will be handed over to the higher learning centre after the Games which will be a long way towards solving the accommodation problems at the institution.

The Zone Six Games were inaugurated in 2004 in Mozambique following a Council of Ministers of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone VI  meeting held in  1997 in Cabinda, Angola. On 7 September, 1999 during a special meeting of the Zone Six Supreme Council for Sport in Africa in Johannesburg, it was agreed that the Games be held bi–annually on a compulsory and rotational basis among the member States.

The Games have since been organised and hosted by Mozambique 2004, Namibia 2006, South Africa 2008, Swaziland 2010 and Zambia played host to the fifth edition in 2012.

The aim of the event is to use sport to achieve peace, integration and unity in Africa and as a vehicle for encouraging people to develop and come together irrespective of colour, economic status, political inclination, class or gender. The Games bring together different people from all over southern Africa who not only compete for medals but build lasting friendships, during and after the games.
The event promotes inter-cultural dialogue among the participating countries. Sport has the power to unite people and knows no language, culture or race. It speaks to youths and can create hope. It is powerful in breaking down racial barriers.