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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE construction of the Epworth Olympafrica Centre is expected to finally begin after the dispute over the land that had been offered to the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee by the Epworth Local Board was resolved and the ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for today.

The land had been invaded by informal settlers last year, delaying the commencement of the project.

According to ZOC chief executive, Anna Mguni, the National Olympic Committee entered into a partnership with the Epworth Local Board wherein the local authority provided land for sport development. Mguni said the ceremony will be presided over by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Saviour Kasukuwere, this morning.

“This handover ceremony will be presided over by the Minister of Local Government, Public Construction and National Housing, as the head of local authorities. We believe this is an exciting development that is set to change the social, recreational, sporting and commercial landscape of Epworth. While the Centre will be established at Epworth, we have no doubt people from other areas will benefit from such a facility,” said Mguni.

The project is funded by the International Olympic Committee through the Olympafrica Foundation and will be managed by ZOC and supported by the relevant local authorities.

“ZOC signed a long-term lease agreement with the ELB in June 2014, which facilitated the sourcing of support to establish a multi-disciplinary sport and cultural centre. The project will be managed by the ZOC and supported by the relevant local authorities and partners.

“The IOC, through the Olympafrica Foundation, has invested in 40 similar projects in different countries on the African continent. The aim is to uplift less privileged communities, catering not only for school-going children through the various projects and activities, but also for the supporting populations.

“In addition to sports facilities, the Centre will offer interactive educational programmes like leadership training for youth, health related awareness initiatives, (HIV-Aids prevention through sport, anti-doping education) and Olympic Value Education Programmes,” said Mguni. One of the project co-ordinators, Musekiwa Kumbula, said the construction of the centre is a welcome development that will have an impact on the social and economic landscape of Epworth.

“It’s going to be a very big project. Epworth community is very excited, this is the first time they are going to have a modern sport facility.

“In Epworth there is raw talent waiting to be developed. We have hopes this will help us address some of the anti-social activities in the community. We are hoping this will change the social and economic landscape of Epworth when it starts churning out stars,” said Kumbula.