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Wimbainashe Zhakata and Fungayi Munyoro
THE City of Mutare has set aside a budget of more than $200 000 meant for wellness and sport development programmes, an official has said.

Town Clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa said this at the launch of the 2018 Inter-City Games and handover of trophies recently held at Mutare Hall.

Mr Maligwa said a budget of over $200 000 is being crafted towards wellness and sport development.

“To reflect our seriousness we even crafted a budget, which was biased towards wellness and sport development, with more than $200 000 set aside in the 2018 budget. Our focus for 2019 is to increase the budget allocation,” he said.

“It is pleasing to note that last year, which was the inaugural sport fiesta, saw the local authority battling it out in seven sport disciplines, namely soccer, darts, chess, pool, volleyball, netball and tug-of-war.”

Mr Maligwa also talked about other developments that are being done by the City of Mutare in improving sports, which include the refurbishment of Sakubva Stadium which is still in progress.

“To ensure that we fully implement the wellness and health programme, already we have started the process of transforming Sakubva Stadium to a modern stadium to suit the required standards,” he said.

Provincial head coordinator for the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Mr Clifford Mujoko, who was representing Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Monica Mutsvangwa, hailed the good work that was being done by the City of Mutare in renovating Sakubva Stadium for the benefit of sport.

“I have noticed with pleasure renovations that are going to on at Sakubva Stadium which indicates the commitment of council on issues of sport development,” he said

He also said the City of Mutare played a pivotal role in the development of sports in the province and the nation at large, as they were the custodians of sports and recreation facilities in the                       city.

City of Mutare is also looking forward to build formidable teams that will participate in various sports, he said.

“We want to build formidable teams that shall participate in the various sports codes such as volleyball, netball, tug-of-war, chess and soccer, among others,” he said.