Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe Ambassador to Ghana has assured the nation that authorities are closely monitoring athlete Methembe Tshuma, who remained in the West African country on Monday undergoing treatment.
Zimbabwe’s athletics team returned home on Tuesday following a successful campaign at the African Senior Championships in Ghana where the country collected four medals. However, Tshuma, who broke his femur during the 200m semi-finals in Accra, remained behind to recover.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Ghana, Kuga Chinoza, told Zimpapers on Wednesday that embassy officials had visited the athlete together with cyclists Thandolwenkosi Tshuma and Vusumuzi Mnkandla, who recently arrived in Ghana as part of their cycling expedition promoting Zimbabwean and African tourism across the continent.
“We would like to assure Zimbabwe that our son is getting good health attention and that as the Embassy we are checking in him regularly,” said Ambassador Chinoza in a phone interview from Ghana on Wednesday afternoon.
Tshuma was left in Ghana under the care of team physiotherapist Christine Mutangadura, who travelled with the national athletics team for the championships.
The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) has since activated support systems in Bulawayo to assist the athlete upon his return home.
“We will not abandon our young and promising athlete, a bone specialist in Bulawayo and support staff who include our physio will be assigned to him throughout. We also advised the Ministry of Sport, Sport and Recreation Commission and Zimbabwe Olympic Committee about the incident,” said NAAZ president Tendai Tagara.
NAAZ is also footing the bill for the physiotherapist’s extended stay in Ghana.
Zimbabwean officials are awaiting medical clearance from doctors at the University of Ghana before arrangements can be made for Tshuma to travel back home.
The sprinter was reportedly still in pain during Wednesday’s visit.
Bongani Moyo