The Herald
By Shepherd Chiware
26 February 2009
Harare — GOVERNMENT must play a key role in the complete overhaul of sport in Zimbabwe and render this sector consistent with the challenges facing the country.
The Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, must urgently engage national sports agencies, sports federations and other key stakeholders to find ways of integrating sport into the current national agenda of development, nation-building and peace-making.
We have to find ways on how sport and development can join forces to improve the state of our country.
The greatest challenge facing Zimbabwe at the moment is development.
The central values of sport, which have been underestimated for a long time, can be useful in areas where traditional development has not always succeeded.
Government must facilitate a national conference, and invite all key partners from different sectors in the important area of national co-operation on sport and development.
The work for development, nation-building and peace-making through sport can include projects in such areas as conflict resolution, employment creation, poverty alleviation, the rights and protection of children, social integration, health promotion, life education, environment protection, overcoming all forms of abuse, combating crime and drug abuse, gender, inequality, violence, etc.
For example, the use of role model sports stars as goodwill ambassadors for national development and peace-making can help raise awareness about the many benefits of physical activity and sports, for preventing the communicable and non-communicable diseases, promoting health, well-being and social development.
Because of their universal popularity and appeal, these sports stars will help to highlight the role of sport as a cost-effective and sustainable way to generate major public health gains.
The recommendations emerging from the proposed national conference will culminate in the launch of a national declaration on sport for development and peace.