Story by Tichaona Kurewa
A new dawn is unfolding in Victoria Falls after a ground-breaking ceremony for a modern multi-purpose play centre in the resort city took place this Thursday.
The centre is expected to come in handy in the fight to curb drug and substance abuse among youths.
The initiative being spearheaded by the City of Victoria Falls and its partner, Matter, seeks to be more than just a playground and will see the establishment of facilities such as volleyball and basketball courts as well as a soccer pitch.
It envisions being a haven for children, offering space for recreation, learning and personal growth, while simultaneously tackling the critical issue of drug and substance abuse among youths.
City of Victoria Falls Mayor His Worship Thuso Moyo said, “This is more than just a building; it’s an investment in our children, a shield against the dangers of drug abuse, and a platform to unleash their hidden talents. This is the space where children can learn, grow, and discover their passions.
“The centre is about equipping them with the tools to resist negative influences and embrace the positive possibilities that lie within a space where children can learn, grow, and discover their passions.”
The play centre located in Aerodrome will be completed in a year, accommodating children from the high and low-density areas.
“It came about when we discovered that Victoria Falls did not have a play centre for kids, most of the kids play in sand and felt that it was important to partner with the city to bring something for the kids of all ages. Our plan here is to put a turf for the kids to play soccer, and to be able to play netball and basketball. With the amount of drugs that is coming out of our youths, this will be a destruction,” said Matter Zimbabwe representative, Mr Blessing Munyenyiwa.
Matter president, Quenton Marty said, “We believe that everybody matters, everybody is important, has God-given skills and abilities. So we want to come together to unlock those, especially in the kids of Victoria Falls. We are excited about that.”
The centre will also help in fulfilling Victoria Falls’ vision to become a sports tourism destination of choice.
