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Walter Nyamukondiwa Mashonaland West Bureau
GOVERNMENT should improve and spread sporting infrastructure to rural areas to promote health and wellness programmes among women, Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka has said.

Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said like the National Clean-up Day declared by President Mnangagwa every first Friday of the month, there should be a day set aside for activities that promote wellness.

Speaking at the Provincial Women and Girls Sports Festival at Matau Primary School in Zvipani, Hurungwe District recently, Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said healthy lifestyles should be promoted owing to the emergence of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

“It would be a wonderful thing to have a day set aside for such activities,” she said.

“The day can be for women because men have their days where they go out for boozers games.

“It’s something that we will look at in our office to put a day on the calendar maybe every last Saturday of the month so that we can come together as women and girls.”

Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said women wanted to take part in sport, but there were few opportunities, before calling for more facilities and programmes.

“We are celebrating International Women’s Day and in most cases such activities are carried out in urban areas like Chinhoyi, Chegutu and Kadoma, but this year we said we also need to reach those in rural areas,” she said.

“Even here in the rural areas, women are important and also want to take part in the International Women’s Day.

“The women and girls are so excited and have come from different parts of the district. It shows the passion that they have.”

Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said there was need to improve sporting infrastructure in rural areas so that women and girls could lead healthy lifestyles.

“It’s unfortunate that we do not promote sport as much as we used to,” she said.

“We are supposed to be seen to promote sport in this day and age where it is part of our healthy living.

“Infrastructure for sport is not adequate, especially in rural areas where people only have football, athletics and netball leaving out sports such as rugby, tennis and swimming. We need to engage the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation on this.”

The festival saw women of all ages participating in athletics including clay pot, needle and sack races which test accuracy, speed and coordination.

Minister Mliswa-Chikoka took part in some of the races while competitions were also held in netball.

Chief Chanetsa welcomed the festival for women, saying men should support their wives and children to promote health and harmony within communities.

“We are happy that Government has come up with the initiative because that promotes health and well-being of women and girls who are usually seized with household chores,” he said.

“Schools should play a part in promoting sport for women in communities. They should also work to improve sporting facilities.”

Provincial youth coordinator Mr Edias Mavune said the activity brought together ministries responsible for women and sport to mark International Women’s Day.

“The event was after the realisation that women also needed a platform where they can express themselves and reminisce on their youthful days for those who are now aged,” he  said.