By Regis Mhako
The deplorable state of sporting facilities in Mhangura came under the sport light during an indaba to revive sporting activities in the former mining area.
Mhangura Community members and their leaders, sportsmen and government officials converged at Mhangura sports and recreation centre for an indaba to resuscitate sports in the community.
The indaba began with a tour of sporting facilities at the center which exposed a sorry state of affairs with a swimming pool now turned into a fishing pond, while a bowling club is now a preschool, a squash hall at the centre is now occupied by some tenants while a darts hall has been converted into a church hall.
Mhangura sports coordinator, Nickson Maguvaza said: “This is a meeting to revive all sport codes in Mhangura. NDS 1 and 2 speak to infrastructure development. We have sporting infrastructure which needs to be spruced up, like what is happening at Gwanzura Stadium. So, we are making a clarion call to the President to remember Mhangura. We want to revive sports in Mhangura.”
Most of the sports infrastructure has been surrendered to Makonde Rural District Council by the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, hence, the call for the local authority to utilise devolution funds to refurbish the facilities.
“Now with the New Dispensation, there are devolution funds so they can be used to refurbish the sporting facilities,” noted Trust Gogwe, provincial sports and recreation officer.
Former Caps United and Warriors player, Alois Bunjira, graced the occasion and took the opportunity to urge talented youths not to wait for the refurbishment of facilities, saying great names in sport come from humble beginnings.
Some of the great names from Mhangura Queens netball legends were part of the indaba to inspire the youth.
The Deputy Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Cde Jennifer Mhlanga applauded the community for initiating the revival of sports in the constituency and promised government support.
“What you have started is in line with our President’s vision. We are living no place and no one behind. There is abundance of talent in Mhangura,” she said.
The Zimbabwean sports narrative can never be complete without the mention of Mhangura, an area which produced great names in football such as the Chieza brothers.