PRESS STATEMENT
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BULAWAYO CHOSEN AS HOST CITY FOR SUPREME COUNCIL FOR SPORT IN AFRICA ZONE VI 2014 UNDER 20 GAMES : DECEMBER 2014
The Zimbabwean Government through the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, in November 2012 signed a Protocol Agreement to host the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa (SCSA) ZONE VI 2014 Under-20 Youth Games. The Zone VI games are held under the auspices of the African Union, and Zimbabwe has been selected to host the 2014 games for the SADC region in December 2014. The Zone VI under 20 Youth games are a biennial sport platform aimed at improving the development of sport in the SADC region in preparation for higher continental and global sport competitions.
It was up to Zimbabwe to choose the host city for these games and two were in contention namely Harare and Bulawayo.  I am pleased to announce that Cabinet on 21st May 2013 unanimously agreed to accept my proposal that the 2014 Zone VI under 20 games be held in Bulawayo. I should stress that this decision enjoyed support from all three parties to the inclusive Government and I am grateful for the support given to my proposal in particular by His Excellency the President Robert Mugabe, Vice President Joyce Mujuru, Right Honourable Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Minister Welshman Ncube and Minister of Finance Tendai Biti.
The sporting disciplines set to be hosted by the games in Bulawayo are Athletics, Boxing, Basketball, Netball, Tennis, Swimming, Football and Judo. In compliance with this Cabinet decision to host the games in Bulawayo, the Government of Zimbabwe will rehabilitate the sporting facilities at the selected venues in time for December 2014.
The major negative point against Bulawayo being able to host the Games was the absence of a suitable Games Village to house the 4000 athletes. However it was argued that the Games provided a unique opportunity to address the lack of residential accomodation at NUST which at present can only accommodate 32 students although it has a student body of several thousand. Accordingly a key component of the decision is the construction of halls of residences at the National University of Science and Technology which will be used as the Games Village. The Games Village will be sited on the NUST Campus to accommodate over 4000 young men and women sportspersons. After the Games have been concluded the Games Village will be handed over to NUST and will then provide residential accomodation for some 4000 student with effect from January 2015.
In addition a wide variety of existing sports facilities in Bulawayo will be upgraded as is set out below. The total estimated investment by Government is the sum of US$42 million, the bulk of which will be spent on the Games Village/Residences for NUST.
BULAWAYO: SPORT AND ACCOMODATION FACILITIES Â FOR ZONE VI 2014 YOUTH GAMES
YOUTH GAMES
| DISCIPLINE/ REQUIREMENT | INTENDED FACILITY | RENOVATIONSÂ NEEDEDÂ |
| Accommodation | NUST | Construction of hostels for 4000 athletes/students |
| Command Centre | Bulawayo Polytechnic | Paintings, Ceilings, plumbing, electrical repairs |
| Athletics | NUST | Reconstruction and renovation of changing rooms, spectator terraces and tartan track. |
| Boxing | Police Drill Hall | Complete renovation of arena, electrical repairs, flood lights, terraces, walls and toilets. |
| City Hall | Renovations to walls, terraces, toilets, electrical repairs, flood lights and arena. | |
| Basketball | Bulawayo Club For The Blind | Repair of courts, score boards, plumbing, terraces and shades. |
| Schools 6 courts: Northlea High, Founders College, Evelyn Girls School, Milton High, Girls College, Dominican Convent. | Repairs to playing surfaces, toilets plumbing, basket boards spectator areas, scoreboards. | |
| Netball | Railton Sports Club | Refurbishment to playing surface, score boards, plumbing, terraces and toilets |
| Tennis | Bulawayo Athletic Club | Renovations to terraces, playing surface, plumbing, scoreboards. |
| Girls College | Repairs to playing surface, terraces and scoreboards | |
| Dominican Convent | Repairs to playing surface, nets, scoreboard, terraces. | |
| Swimming | Parirenyatwa Pool | Upgrade to International standard 5000Â capacity |
| Football | Barbourfields | Repair work required to toilets, VIP stand, drainage, security fence, terraces |
| Ross Camp | Refurbishing of stadium and grounds facility. | |
| White City | Construction and renovation work to grand stands, toilets and playing surface. | |
| Hartsfield | Rehabilitation of toiletsPainting walls
Electrical and lighting repairs, Flood lights Turf repairs |
|
| Luveve | Refurbishments terraces, toilets, flood lights, playing surface. | |
| Judo | Hillside Teachers College | Repairs to floors and equipment in the gym |
The decision by Cabinet to host such an illustrious international sport tournament is very commendable and derives legacy benefits for the host city Bulawayo. Most importantly this decision will expand Zimbabwe’s capacity to host future games of such magnitude in both Harare and Bulawayo. This therefore presents Zimbabwe with high chances of successfully bidding for other bigger regional and international tournaments.
Senator David Coltart
MINISTER OF EDUCATION, SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE
23 May 2013