EDITORIAL COMMENT: Smart partnerships: The surest way to go HITTING THE JACKPOT. . . Dynamos skipper, Patson Jaure (left), receives the keys and documents of the vehicle from Sakunda Holdings chief executive, Kuda Tagwirei (second from right), in Harare

AN advertisement carried in our sister newspaper, Chronicle, on Thursday, told a bigger story about the value of smart partnerships.

It spoke loud and clear about what this country can achieve when we come together for the good of our nation, rather than spend our lives fighting in the political trenches.

It showed that when President Mnangagwa preaches the gospel that we can clear hurdles which have been erected in our path, as long as we work as a united nation, he knows our potential as a nation.

He understands that we can be the masters of our destiny without hoping that some foreigners will come and resolve all the challenges we face.

We have already seen massive investment in our infrastructure development, with the majority, if not all, of the resources, coming from our pockets.

The Second Republic has chosen a clear path to, among other things, refurbish our major road networks, without waiting for donors to do it for us.

The results have been impressive and even our worst detractors are beginning to see that there is something big happening in this country.

Roadworks on the Harare-Beitbridge highway continue at pace and Seke Road, the one which links Chitungwiza and Harare, has undergone a significant facelift in the last three months.

There is a refreshing breeze, which is blowing across the country, with people seeing progress, in different fields as we continue to change the face of our nation.

We are a sports-loving people and, to the majority of our people, nothing beats football, even though a significant chunk of our nation also loves cricket, where we derive a lot of pride in being just one of two African nations that play at the Test level.

South Africa is the other country which the International Cricket Council deemed good enough to play in the elite Test league, an exclusive grouping of the best cricket countries, around the globe.

There has always been a feeling in this country that our two major football clubs, Dynamos and Highlanders, provide the heart and soul of our national game.

When they sneeze, there is always the inevitability that the entire football community in this country also catches a cold.

That the two giants have been struggling, in the past few years, is a matter of record as they have found the challenge which has been posed by the challengers, with rich pockets, from the platinum mines, tougher to handle.

FC Platinum, the club from Zvishavane, have won the last three domestic league championships while Ngezi Platinum, the club from Mhondoro Ngezi, have been knocking on the doors of success, with a Chibuku Super Cup, in their trophy cabinet.

However, it appears, the giants are beginning to find their touch, especially after the multi-million-dollar kiss of life which they received, from their new principal sponsors, Sakunda Holdings.

The two giants have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup.

But, more than just the football, it’s the social impact, which the Sakunda partnership is bringing, which has caught our attention, and shows what we can do, if we unite for a bigger cause than our personal selfish interests.

The tender which was flighted in the Chronicle this week requested quotations from suitably qualified suppliers to participate in the procurement of different materials, which will be used in the refurbishment of Highlanders Sports Club.

Highlanders Sports Club is one of the iconic buildings in Bulawayo, it represents the spirit of the city and its eternal attachment, with its favourite football club.

It also houses the Highlanders offices.

But, for all its historical importance, it’s a place which was now losing its glamour as the Bosso leaders struggled to maintain it, and give it the appearance it deserves.

We can understand because when the same leadership found themselves struggling to cater for the demands of their players, just a few months ago, it was never going to make sense for them to channel the little financial resources, in their coffers, into the maintenance of the sports club.

However, all that is changing, thanks to a smart partnership with Sakunda Holdings, in what is a win-win situation for the club, and their parent sponsors, as we once again demonstrate that we can do a lot, using our own resources.

Highlanders have now invited bidders for the supply and delivery of working drawings, 3D impressions to carry out club office renovations and for the supply and fixing of construction works at the club office renovations.

 This follows a visit to the site by Sakunda Holdings chief executive Kuda Tagwirei last weekend, where he promised to provide more support for the country’s oldest football club.

This is on top of the US$5,3 million sponsorship deal which the company unveiled, in their three-year partnership, with the two giants.

Now, we are seeing real development, away from football, which is coming out of a football partnership, with local companies now set to benefit from the renovation of the Bosso club offices and sports club.

Employment is going to be created, during this exercise, with the benefits cascading across the board, from the suppliers, who also have workers they take care of, and those who will carry out the refurbishment                                 work.

This is how countries develop, no work is too small, or two big, and everything eventually feeds into taking our beautiful country forward.

There is a breath of fresh air blowing at Highlanders and when this iconic club is in good shape, the entire city of Bulawayo walks with a spring in its step.

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