ZOC to fund infrastructure repair

Raymond Jaravaza

THE Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) is set to undertake a re-building exercise of sports rethat was destroyed by the recent cyclone that hit the Chimanimani and Chipinge areas.

The funds are set to be released by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after its president Thomas Bach expressed sadness at the terrible devastation that Cyclone Idai had brought to Zimbabwe, resulting in the loss of life and destruction of infrastructure.

“ZOC will access the funding via project application with a view to supporting the repairing of sport facilities and the renewal of sports equipment in affected communities, as well as consider direct support to any affected athletes.

“ZOC is looking to collaborate with community leaders and targeted partners in planning and implementation, in order to lend appropriate support to the sporting fraternity,” said ZOC chief executive officer Anna Mguni.

The aid package is to the tune of US$50 000.

For transparency the special assistance will be disbursed and accounted for through the normal IOC regulated programme funding procedures, including an audit at the end of the year.

Massive damage to infrastructure including schools, clinics and in some extreme cases total destruction of whole villages was recorded in the cyclone-hit areas.

Football pitches, netball, basketball and tennis courts are some of the damaged infrastructure that will be re-built from scratch or repaired in instances where the destruction was not severe.

The IOC together with ZOC say they remain committed to the uplifting of communities through sport and its development.