Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
COLONEL Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga has made a passionate plea to parents and guardians across the country to stop forcing children into narrow boxes and let them thrive where they’re gifted, whether it’s in sport, art or any other skill.
Speaking at the Lupanda Primary Schools Cluster Sports Day at Sipopoma Primary School in Lupane District, Colonel Baloyi-Chiwenga, the wife of Vice-President General (Rtd) Constantino Chiwenga said Zimbabwe must break from a past where academic achievement was seen as the only path to success.
“I encourage parents, guardians and role models to encourage children at what they are good at because it’s not everyone who is good in class. It’s up to us to try and understand what they are good at, nurture them,” she said.
Six schools took part in the day’s netball and football tournament and Col Baloyi-Chiwenga, who was guest of honour, presented prizes to the standout performers. But her message went beyond trophies.
She called on communities to back the Government’s new heritage based curriculum, which shifts focus from purely academic learning to practical skills development and talent identification.
“We have to make sure we support them through every possible way without judging them because the heritage-based curriculum is more practical. It’s not about a child who is in class. It’s also about going out there to do certain things,” she said.
“To me, sports are also practical.”
The senior army officer, a staunch advocate for youth development, said sport has transformed lives and could do more if supported properly.
“Sport is something that we really have to support as communities and as a nation,” she emphasised.
“It’s helped people become full-time professionals. It’s changed communities and families.”
But alongside this call for talent nurturing, Col Baloyi-Chiwenga raised the red flag over a growing national crisis of drug and substance abuse.
“My heart bleeds when l think about issues of drug and substance abuse because we are losing a whole generation and we are sitting and thinking it is okay. It’s not okay. Children are not thinking straight. They are stuck or ukusticker, whatever it’s called,” she said.
“When you stick, you can’t think straight. You can’t even build your career or have a future. So, if the children can’t have a future, what are we going to be as parents?”
She warned that this crisis has even hit sports, with many promising young athletes being derailed before they reach their peak. Her call was clear, communities, schools, families and leaders must act together.
“We need to have a collective approach when dealing with issues of drug and substance abuse and l know that sport is one step towards that, as it occupies the youths,” said Col Baloyi-Chiwenga.
