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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
The Mashonaland Central chapter of the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has bemoaned the lack of sports infrastructure in the province as many facilities, especially country clubs, are now being used for farming activities.

The SRC held its first-quarter meeting last week, to deliberate on issues affecting sports in the province, decentralisation of its structures and the youth games to be hosted in the Midlands province. Preparations for the youth games has been affected by inadequate equipment and appalling facilities.

“We have inadequate facilities in the province and our stakeholders require us to open dialogue with local authorities, Minister of State (for Mashonaland Central) and then Minister of Sports and Culture,” said Mr James Maganga, the SRC’s provincial sports coordinator.

“The issue of levies has been decentralised and now, as the province, we collect levies from associations. After this meeting, we will have a clear timeline and budget for this year’s youth games.”

Sports associations that attended the meeting agreed on a number of issues they want to bring to Government’s attention. These include the need for refurbishing Chipadze Stadium, which they said was not up to scratch.

“The stadium needs to be upgraded in line with the Government’s agenda of having a state-of-the art stadium in every province,” said Mr Maganga. “We also need a sports exhibition park in this province.

“We want to bring to the minister’s attention that governance issues at national level are affecting sports at provincial level. Most sportsmen in the province are volunteering; we need to turn sports into an industry and start employing.”

The annual levies, Mr Maganga said, were specifically meant for grassroot development.