Mugabe ropes in Coltart

Zimbabwe Mail

By Bukhosi Mangena

President Robert Mugabe has roped in former Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, David Coltart to help administer the forthcoming AUSC Region V Under-20 Youth Games to be staged in Bulawayo in December.

Coltart, who intensely lobbied for Bulawayo to host the games when he was minister in the unity government, yesterday joined the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa and the Local Organising Committee in a tour of Games venues in the city.

Explaining Coltart’s presence in the delegation, Langa said the President insisted that since the former minister was involved in the bidding process for the Games, it was prudent that he became involved in the preparations for the sports fiesta.

“The President told me last month, during the torch lighting ceremony at State House in the capital, to call in Coltart and he even reiterated that yesterday after officiating at the Lupane State University graduation ceremony, so I had to bring him in,” said Langa.

Speaking during the same media briefing at Bulawayo Swimming Pool after the tour, Coltart said: “I would like to thank the President for bringing the games to the City.

“When I proposed the Games to be hosted in this city, I faced resistance especially from the Cabinet, but the President came to my support and we had to bring them here. I would also like to urge everyone to put aside their partisan politics for the successful hosting of the games because this is a national event, and it is a great opportunity to represent not only Bulawayo, but the nation to show the world that we are a great country that is capable of hosting a world class event,” he added.

During yesterday’s tour, it emerged that the preparations for the Region V Games were dragging, especially renovations at White City Stadium where the contractors are still waiting for some material which was said to be still in Durban in neighboring South Africa.

A tartan track is yet to be laid at the stadium which will be used for athletics in conformity with the international standards.

As part of the renovations, an electronic scoreboard is to be erected as well as a revamped VIP area.

Bulawayo is likely to become a top sports venue in the country after the stadia overhaul which will see the city boasting of state of the art facilities.

The Games, which will take place from the December 4-15, will see 11 member countries, South Africa, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Seychelles and hosts Zimbabwe battling it out
for honours in at least eight sporting disciplines.