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WE CAN DO IT . . . Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi (left) addresses the media in the company of his Sport, Arts and Culture counterpart Andrew Langa in Harare yesterday where they announced that their bid to host the 2017 Nations Cup finals had secured President Mugabe’s approval

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE got the boost they needed yesterday to expedite their bid to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations after President Mugabe granted the nod to ambitious plans that have been fronted by the Ministries of Sport, Arts and Culture and Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
Andrew Langa, the Sport, Arts and Culture Minister and his Tourism and Hospitality Industry counterpart Walter Mzembi yesterday confirmed that they had a fruitful meeting with President Mugabe who gave his approval for the country to submit their bid.

The tournament was originally scheduled to take place in Libya, but authorities in the North African country withdrew their candidature to host the event because of rising security concerns in the region.

Zimbabwe have emerged among a host of other countries that have shown interest in hosting the football jamboree.
To stand a better chance of landing the bid, the organisers have approached regional partners notably, Zambia, to get the tournament back in Southern Africa again.
Langa told journalists yesterday that they have successfully engaged President Mugabe to get his backing for the hosting of the event and they were now working to get more guarantees from the Ministries of Finance, Home Affairs, Local Government, Transport, Health, Local Authorities and the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services.

Zimbabwe previously won the bid to host the Nations Cup in 2000, but the rights were taken away at the last minute and awarded to Ghana and Nigeria with CAF saying that the country was behind in its preparations.

Zimbabwe also submitted bids for Afcon in 2010 and the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup which were unsuccessful.
Langa said the absence of Government guarantees were their major weakness but now, with President Mugabe behind the latest bid, they feel they have a better chance of winning the bid to host the 2017 Nations Cup.

“Zimbabwe’s bids were weakened seriously as we did not have the required letters of guarantees from the Head of State and also from other ministries.
“I am happy to tell this Press conference that we have met with His Excellency over the hosting of the 2017 Afcon and His Excellency has okayed that we can try our luck as Zimbabwe.

“It means, therefore, that this bid we are trying to work on has the support of His Excellency,” said Langa.
The minister said the budget for the bid is “still work in progress” and remained confident that the nation will have enough infrastructure to host CAF’s flagship tournament.

Committees will soon be put in place to advance the bidding process.
Langa revealed that they will also canvas for support from Libya.

Neighbours Zambia, whom they hope to form a joint bid with, are in the running for the 2019 event and are currently pre-occupied with that bid as results are set to be announced tomorrow.

Caf said in a statement they will unveil the countries to host the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations during a general assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Zambia are fighting it out with Algeria, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, and Guinea for the above editions.

Unsuccessful candidates may join Zimbabwe in the bid for the 2017 Afcon if they are interested.
A Zimbabwean delegation was sent to Lusaka last week where they engaged their counterparts on the proposal.

That delegation included Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze.
Caf have set September 30 as the deadline for applications and so far Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania have shown interest to host the 2017 edition.
Langa, however, said Zimbabwe stands a better chance because they have the infrastructure for such a tournament.

“Zimbabwe has facilities to host mega events as evidenced by the nation successfully hosting the NAM Summit in 1984, CHOGM Summit, All Africa Games in 1995, UNWTO Conference in 2013.

“Zimbabwe also boasts of Caf-approved match venues. We have the National Sports Stadium, Gwanzura, Luveve and Barbourfields. Obviously there will be need to upgrade Luveve and Gwanzura.

“One question which I believe we may need to ask ourselves is that are we able to host these Games suppose that we win this bid as Zimbabwe alone?
“We have met with Minister Mzembi and we have agreed that there could be need that we co-host this Afcon with a country that is in SADC region.

“Our message, therefore, is clear that Zimbabwe is also going at it. We want to send our bid and host the 2017 Afcon, suppose if we win.
“We have all the strength as a country, our security situation is very good, our facilities in terms of hotels are also very good.

“Libya, who have been an all-weather friend of Zimbabwe, could be engaged by Zimbabwe to maintain and retain their tournament presence by financially and materially endorsing and supporting Zimbabwe’s bid to replace them and that engagement can be done at Government as well as football levels,” said Langa.
Minister Mzembi said Zimbabweans should unite in support of the bid.

Mzembi, who has said that hosting such an event would be a stepping stone to bigger plans to host the 2034 World Cup, gave assurance that Zimbabwe will be a good destination.

He said the country has signed several memorandums with the Chinese government to help in the area of infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Sport, Arts and Culture will be in Bulawayo today for a tour of the facilities to be used for the African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Youth Games.

Committee chairman Temba Mliswa told The Herald yesterday that they will be in Bulawayo to see progress made so far in the construction and renovation of facilities to host the Games.