adminTedious Manyepo : Sports Reporter
YOUTHS in Epworth have expressed disdain over the delay in the construction of the Olympafrica Centre in the area which has been hamstrung by illegal settlers at the site. The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee had been offered the place to construct the centre by the Epworth Local Board, but unfortunately the area is still being occupied by illegal settlers.According to the agreement, the local board would provide the space while ZOC secure the funding.
The project is funded by Olympafrica Foundation which supports projects in Africa especially for the disadvantaged communities.
Unfortunately, the project might suffer a still birth as there are fears that some “corrupt” activities are taking place between the local board and the illegal settlers.
Some officials of the Epworth Local Board are reported to have “corruptly” allocated some stands to the people on the piece of land that was earmarked for the construction of the Olympafrica Centre.
With no remedy in sight, there are fears that the Olympafrica Foundation might end up withholding the funding if nothing is done to address the issue as a matter of urgency.
Some youths in the Epworth area interviewed by The Harald yesterday said it was unfortunate that the local board were prioritising “lining their pockets” ahead of addressing the plight of the underprivileged people who stand to benefit from the project.
“The project (Olympafrica) is a good idea which can enable some of us who are largely disadvantaged.
“The initiative can help youths shun drug abuse and some other criminal activities that come with being idle in the streets. Unfortunately, the local board is engaging in some corrupt activities where it is selling stands illegally to these people whom you are calling illegal settlers,” said one Kainos Muradza (20).
Several others echoed Muradza’s sentiments calling the practice (corruption) a cancer which will not allow any development to take place in marginalised communities like Epworth.
Some homeowners living in the area which is earmarked for the construction of the high performance centre said they are not ready to leave the area since they bought the properties from the local board.
“We can only move from this place if we are given some alternative areas to go. We paid our hard-earned money to some of the members in the local board and surely how could we leave when we are actually planning to construct some proper structures,” quipped a male homeowner who declined to be identified.
Epworth Local Board chairman Tafireyi Murambidzi said they are in the process of moving the illegal settlers to an alternative site to allow for the commencement of the Olympafrica Centre’s construction.
Online Reporter