Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
THE Zanu-PF Matabeleland South leadership has described the just-ended second edition of the Vice-President Dr Kembo Mohadi Sports Tournament as a game-changer in mobilising the nation to intensify the fight against drug and substance abuse among youths.
The ruling party’s provincial Political Commissar, Washington Nkomo, said the event, which brought together various stakeholders, was part of the party’s efforts to engage with communities and promote unity.
The two-day sporting tournament saw 12 teams from all the province’s constituencies competing in netball and football.
The sports gala was jointly hosted by Welton Primary School and Ronnie’s Arena (Mabidi Stadium) between Friday and Saturday and coincided with VP Mohadi’s birthday celebration, which is held on 15 November every year.
The tournament is a brainchild of the provincial Zanu-PF Youth League to celebrate the legacy of the Vice-President and the Second Republic. Vice-President Mohadi is revered for his commitment to improving and encouraging young people to engage in sport.
Already, last year’s winners — Gwanda-Tshitaudze teams, which excelled in both netball and soccer finals — are now running thriving goat-rearing projects after investing their prize money into youth empowerment initiatives.
“All games at VP Mohadi’s sports expo were played as planned without any incidents, and this year we saw a great improvement in the participating teams, which were composed mostly of talented youths from across the province.
“In addition, the attendance was far better compared to the inaugural event we held in Gwanda last year. We had a full house and we commend the Beitbridge community and others from nearby districts in Matabeleland South for rallying behind this noble cause.
“This time around, we saw many organisations that work with the youth coming on board, supporting the programme and amplifying the anti-drug and substance abuse message, as well as issues related to sexual and reproductive health. We have seen a great improvement indeed,” said Nkomo.
Nkomo highlighted that players in both football and netball competitions had shown great focus and determination towards sports development and remained committed throughout the tournament.
He emphasised that although certain teams emerged victorious at the end of the games, the greatest winners were the communities in Matabeleland South, as reflected by their full support during the sports gala.
He said the provincial leadership was impressed with the sports facilities in Beitbridge, which aligns with President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic’s vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
“We have learnt a lot from this programme this year, and the organising committee responsible for this tournament will now sit and conduct a post-mortem to decide on the next venue and dates for the 2026 edition,” said Nkomo.
In separate interviews, some youths who attended the sports fiesta lauded the Vice President for leading from the front in the fight against drug and substance abuse while giving young people an opportunity to showcase their talents.
“We are excited and grateful to our Vice-President, whose legacy we will continue to celebrate. This sports gala provides a huge platform for youths from remote areas to showcase their talents on a large stage,” said Rendani Ndou from Beitbridge West.
Another youth, Ronald Moyo from Beitbridge East, said the tournament was a welcome development and praised the idea of holding it across all seven districts in the province.
He said this promotes a culture of inclusivity, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to participate.
According to Sibonakaliso Ndlovu, a netball player from Umzingwane, the sports gala will go a long way in ensuring the girl child is not left behind in grassroots sports development.
“We are happy to be participating in this noble event that, among other things, raises awareness on issues related to drug and substance abuse, which has become a national problem,” she said.
