Story by Anashe Murombedzi
HARARE Metropolitan Province has unveiled an Interim Provincial Sport and Recreation Development Committee tasked with coordinating sport and recreation development across the province until May next year.
The initiative is aligned with Government’s devolution agenda and President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of inclusive development.
The committee is expected to address longstanding gaps in sport governance below national level, where inconsistent structures have left community clubs, schools and uniformed services without a coordinated development framework.
Unveiling the committee, Harare Metropolitan Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Senator Charles Tavengwa, said stronger grassroots structures were essential to unlocking sporting potential.
“For too long, our communities have suffered from a persistent challenge, the weak coordination and limited development of sport at the grassroots level. Talented youth in our wards and suburbs have gone unnoticed; our infrastructure has lacked coordination, and the immense economic potential of the sports sector has remained largely untapped. Today, we say: no more.”
Committee chairperson Mr Tawanda Chidzidzi pledged to lead an inclusive and collaborative process.
“I pledge inclusive, transparent, and results-driven leadership. However, true success depends on our collective effort. I call upon all government departments, local authorities, the private sector, and communities to join hands with us.”
The interim committee will oversee provincial and district competitions, manage talent development squads, advocate for land to be set aside for sporting facilities and mobilise resources for sport and recreation programmes.
Its membership comprises representatives from the education sector, local authorities, uniformed services, women’s and youth organisations, the disability sector and the business community.
