PRESS RELEASE
Following the change of guard in Government punctuated by the coming into office of His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa on 24 November 2017, the Government of Zimbabwe has adopted the Rapid Results Approach with a view to making Zimbabwe an attractive investment destination. Pursuant to the above development, President ED Mnangagwa has directed that all Ministries, State Enterprises and Parastatals were expected to come up with 100 days of Action Plans that would kick start the turnaround process. To this end, the Sports and Recreation Commission has been tasked to spearhead implementation of sport and recreation projects as part of the Government’s 100 Day Quick Wins Rapid Results Initiative for the period until 10 April 2018. In line with that requirement, the SRC, will execute the following projects:
- Improving National Sport and Recreation Organizations’ Compliance,
- Cricket for Good Project and
- Community Sport and Recreation Festivals.
The SRC is embarking on the following Projects:
- Improving Sport and Recreation Organizations’ Compliance
Goal: To increase compliance of at least 32 registered NSAs to more than 50% of statutory submissions by 10 April 2018.
Under this initiative, the SRC will ensure that registered National Sport Associations meet the provisions of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act Chapter 25:15 of 1991 and Statutory Instrument 342 of 1995. At this stage, only 15 National Sport Associations are in good standing with the SRC and the rest fall far below expected compliance levels.
“Governance and compliance are critical to the realization of sound administration of any organization, and without this, the sport and recreation sector would not be attractive to potential sponsors, donors and other well-wishers crucial to the delivery of quality sport and recreation programmes. All National Sport Associations are therefore expected to abide by international standards and best practice. For the sport and recreation sector to transform into a viable industry capable of contributing to the GDP, it is important that sport and recreation organizations, sport administrators and practitioners observe strict adherence to existing laws, policies and other tenets of good corporate governance.” said Joseph Muchechetere SRC Acting Director General.
- Cricket for Good
Zimbabwe, through Zimbabwe Cricket with the technical support of the International Cricket Council and SRC, will host the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Bulawayo, Harare and Kwekwe from 2 – 25 March 2018 featuring 10 men’s national cricket teams from Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, West Indies and hosts Zimbabwe.
The Cricket for Good Project is a Corporate Social Responsibility platform of the ICC WC Qualifiers upon which high profile cricket players drawn from the 10 participating countries will deliver cricket coaching sessions to children below the age of 13 from targeted, poorly resourced schools in Harare, Kwekwe and Bulawayo.
The SRC will also mobilize local organizations, partners and social development practitioners to delivery health education, Anti-Doping Education and Olympic Values education to the young participants. The local partners involved include the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, Tambai Zimbabwe and Generations for Peace.
Broadly speaking, the ICC WC Qualifiers and Cricket for Good project are expected to benefit the country in the following ways;
- 640 young cricket players reached through cricket coaching sessions,
- 150 high profile cricket players involved as role models and coaches,
- Estimated 500 visiting cricket supporters/tourists,
- Estimated $2 000 000 foreign currency inflows,
- Estimated 15 000 spectatorship at cricket matches,
- Estimated 5 000 000 television global viewership,
- Breaking down social barriers to participation in a quality sports programme, and
- Cricket infrastructure refurbished at participating schools.
- Community Sport and Recreation Festivals
During the first 100 Day Turnaround Period, the SRC will support the hosting of 20 Community Sport and Recreation Festivals in the 10 Provinces i.e. 2 district festivals per province.
The Festivals will involve community sport and recreation clubs, schools, colleges, universities and NGOs taking part in sport, recreation, arts and cultural activities at a community level. It is envisaged that through these platforms, people will adopt active life styles centred on regular physical activity and exercise, produce artefacts for sale and exhibition locally, regionally and internationally, and also that local performing artists and groups will enhance their performances thereby attracting potential offers for international exposure with the potential to earn foreign currency for the country.
- National Sport Association 100 Day Quick Win Projects
All registered National Sport Associations have been challenged by the SRC to implement their own projects as part of the 100 Day Quick Win Rapid Results Approach. The projects must be of importance and benefit to the communities and the country as a whole. Initiatives such as the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Golf Championship to be hosted by the Zimbabwe Golf Association in March 2018 and the ATU Troutbeck Triathlon Cup to be hosted by Triathlon Zimbabwe were noted to fit in very well within the requirements of the Rapid Results Approach and the SRC will provide technical support to these and other Associations in an effort to earn the country foreign currency, enhance tourist arrivals and improve the country’s image.
