adminRay Bande and Luthando Mapepa
THE Zimbabwe National Youth Games Local Organising Committee has woken from its deep slumber and efforts to stage a successful edition of the games are now genuinely underway with district fundraising committees in the process of receiving donations from various stakeholders.
The ZNYG are slated for August 15-25 this year in Mutare.
Only last week, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Mandi Chimene raised alarm after receiving news that the LOC had virtually nothing in its coffers with less than a month before the province hosts the annual sporting fête.
Subsequently, the decentralisation of the fundraising activities seems to have gathered momentum with LOC chief executive Cosmas Chiringa, confirming this week that the process of receiving donations is now underway at district level.
“Personally, I have communicated with the district administrators across the province and I have been given assurances that the fundraising processes are underway. I have no doubt that the games will be held successfully.
“We are hoping that by next week we will be talking about figures amassed from the different districts.
“It is also important to note that we are not going for money only. We have come up with a list of commodities that we hope the districts will be able to gather from various stakeholders in order to substitute cash donations,” said Chiringa.
He added that the venues for the games are 80 percent ready, while the games villages — where about 3 300 participants from all provinces around the country and from Mozambique — will be accommodated — are almost ready.
“The sporting facilities are almost ready. In fact, we have covered 80 percent of the work.
“We are only left with the main venue, which is Sakubva Stadium.
“There is need to have some work done on the track at Sakubva.
“We have discussed the issue with Mutare City Council and I am happy to announce that they have pledged to have the work done by next week.
Sakubva Stadium will also host the official launch of the event. The games villages — where participants will be accommodated — are almost ready,” said Chiringa.
Soccer will be played at Sakubva High One, Ellis Gladhill and Mutare Polytechnic’s Pavilion.
Netball will be played at Dangare Primary School, while athletics competitions will be held at Sakubva Stadium.
Boxing will be staged at Mutare Hall.
Tennis, volleyball and basketball will be hosted at Mutare Boys’ High and Mutare Girls’ High respectively.
Mutare Teachers’ College will host handball competitions.
In Chipinge, the district has begun mobilising resources for the annual event.
Speaking at the district fundraising meeting, district’s Sport Development and Promotion Officer, Martin Sithole, said the district fundraising committee was at an advanced stage in mobilising resources from various stakeholders.
Sithole said his committee was confident that the district would meet its target before the games kick off.
“As a district, we are grateful for the support from various companies surrounding this community who have come on board to help us in making this event a success.
“We are optimistic that we can meet our budget because the response is overwhelming.
“We hope that other companies will continue to help us.
“So far we managed to raise 1 500 bananas from Chipinge Bananas, four bags of maize, bags of avocado pears, 50kgs of beans from Buzi Estate, 5 000 oranges from GreenFuel, two heifers from David Jourbet and 300kgs of maize to be confirmed from Makandi Estate,” said Sithole.
Head of Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment in the district Richard Gore pleaded with everyone in the district to play a social responsibility role in partnering Government to make the Youth Games a resounding success.
“It will be sad if this province fails or poorly host this event considering the wealth within the Province of Manicaland.
“We hope various companies will come in and help us and donate to our youths.
“As committee we will approach everyone in extending our begging bowl,” he said.
National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) official Phineas Kazuwazuwa called for transparency during the fundraising process.
“Let us create a transparent environment that assures well-wishers that donated cash and goods will reach the intended destination.
“There should be receipts given to the contributors or a paper stamped by District Administrator’s office,” he said.
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Online Reporter