By Correspondent
Council’s Sports Committee has agreed to revive dormant sports and golf clubs in a wide ranging move that will draw away more resources.
The decision was agreed during a recent Sports Committee workshop in Kadoma.
According to minutes of the meeting, Harare will fund the projects while also exploring other funding models.
“Revival of Golf Clubs and all dormant sports clubs: motor crossings, cricket, tennis.
“The Sports Committee (will also) consider coming up with a policy requiring development of multisporting facilities at all its schools.
These include tennis courts, hockey, football, netball etc.
In order to retain quality players Council has resolved to “ensure sports persons who are injured during sporting or when they are members to be looked after.
“(There is also) need to consider offering employment to sport persons from outside Council to retain talent.
Opposition To Move
However the move has already drawn opposition from within.
Some Councillors feel that the pivot towards supporting sports and setting up the new Sports Committee is wrong.
Cllr Denford Ngadziore said he had an issue with the whole sports budget.
“We came up with a resolution to stop funding sports citing financial cash flows.
“By creating the eleventh committee six months after an election again, I do not think it serves the residents’ best interests.
“I do not support issues that will be an expense to the council when there are priority areas to do with service delivery.
“In my view, we would have created a committee on service delivery.
“This is something that will benefit the residents,” said Ngadziore.
Former Harare Deputy Mayor Kudzai Kadzombe also voiced opposition to the decision.
“As councillor of Ward 41 which is made up of maybe 60 percent of pensioners who are struggling to eke a living having to sacrifice US$10 to pay bills to council and then you see the August house trying to splurge more money that is unnecessary,” said Kadzombe.
Council already has legacy issues of unpaid signing on fees and allowances for its soccer players at Harare City Football.
Its financial challenges have repeatedly led to many top players and coaches leaving the team.
In 2019 former Mayor Herbert Gomba announced that they would stop sponsoring Harare City Football Club.
However, the move has been shortlived.
