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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE will assume chairmanship of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa Zone Six on Friday with the Council of Ministers meeting also expected to endorse the new name change of the Games. The Games are expected to change from the traditional Zone Six Games to the African Union Region Five Games.
Speaking during a press conference at a Bulawayo hotel yesterday, the Zone Six secretary-general Mvuzo Mbebe said the chairmanship is held on a rotational basis over a period of two years.
“We will have the hand over ceremony on Friday evening. All the 10 member states are expected to witness the ceremony,” said Mbebe.
He said the Council of Ministers would also deliberate on the necessary conversion from the Zone Six Games to the AU Sports Council Region Five as per recommendations.
The Zone Six Games will be held in Bulawayo in December next year with countries competing in eight different sport codes.
A local organising committee has already been set up with businessman Henry Manzungu being its chief executive officer. Various venues have since been identified with the National University of Science and Technology set to be the Games Village.
The Zone Six Games were inaugurated in 2004 in Mozambique following a Council of Ministers of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone VI meeting held in 1997 in Cabinda, Angola. On 7 September, 1999 during a special meeting of the Zone Six Supreme Council for Sport in Africa in Johannesburg, it was agreed that the Games be held bi–annually on a compulsory and rotational basis by the member States.
The Games have since been organised and hosted by Mozambique 2004, Namibia 2006, South Africa 2008, Swaziland 2010 and Zambia played host to the fifth edition in 2012.
The aim of the event is to use sports to achieve peace, integration and unity in Africa and sport as a vehicle for encouraging people to develop and come together irrespective of colour, economic status, political inclination, class or gender. The Games bring together different people from all over Southern Africa, who not only compete for medals but build lasting friendships, during and after the Games.
The event promotes inter-cultural dialogue among the participating countries.
Sport has the power to unite people and knows no language, culture or race. It speaks to youth and can create hope.
It is powerful in breaking down racial barriers.
Online Reporter