Story by Courage Bushe
THE mining town of Shurugwi came alive this Friday as it hosted a vibrant sports and wellness gala, bringing together youths and community leaders to engage in discussions on developmental issues.
Aspiring athletes from across Shurugwi District seized the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of scouts, in an event designed to blend sporting excellence with community dialogue.
The gala also served as a platform to campaign against drug and substance abuse.
“I am happy that I have managed to take part in this prestigious event; it has given me an opportunity to interact and sharpen my skills in front of this bumper crowd. I am confident this is a stepping stone in my career where I want to become a renowned footballer,” a soccer player said.
“We are happy to be mingling with our leaders and other youths from all corners of the district. Besides that, we are playing a game with them, which also gives us a platform to share with them our concerns without any boundaries,” a participant said.
“We are seized with the issue of drug and substance abuse, which is threatening to destroy society. We welcome such interventions. We urge the corporate world to come on board to assist us in curbing this vice,” a community member said.
Shurugwi legislators concurred that besides promoting health and fitness, sport can be taken as a profession capable of uplifting livelihoods in communities.
“There are so many young people who have managed to improve their lives through sport, hence we are here to encourage young people not to be idle. We are also identifying talent so that we can support them and groom them to be better people,” Shurugwi North Constituency Legislator, Honourable Joseph Mpasi said.
With the growth of artisanal mining activities in the Shurugwi District, youths are being exposed to drugs, that have seen local leadership intervening through the promotion of sports.
