Zim gear for traditional sports festival
THE Zimbabwe Traditional Sports and Games Federation (ZTSGF) and the African Traditional Sports and Games Confederation (ATSGC) yesterday formally signed the host protocol agreement for the 2028 Multi-Event Festival.
This comes after Zimbabwe won the bid to host the 2028 Traditional Sports and Games Multi-Event Festival.
The first edition is scheduled for Namibia in 2026.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at a local hotel in Harare yesterday, ATSGC president Michael Shamsu Mustapha said they look forward to working with Zimbabwe for the successful staging of the Games.
“We are very pleased with what we have seen so far, preparation by the Zimbabwe Traditional Sports and Games Federation and we are really open to support them throughout the process leading to the Games in 2028.
“We look forward to working with the Zimbabwe Traditional Sports and Games Federation in ensuring that the event of 2028 is held successfully,” said Mustapha.
The signing ceremony also saw the unveiling of the logo for the 2028 event.
It will showcase a wide range of traditional sports, including animal-aided sports, ball games, batting sports, combat sports, dances, mind games, racket sports, targeting sports, water sports, and more.
Mustapha also announced the appointment of ZTSGF president Lizzie Mupure as the second vice president for the continental mother body.
Yesterday’s ceremony was attended by Sports Commission director-eneral Eltah Nengomasha.
“As the Sports and Recreation Commission we are practically excited with the registration of a sport code specifically to ensure that Zimbabweans play our traditional sports.
“We are particularly excited because this will mean that more Zimbabweans
then become involved in sporting activities.”
Nengomasha highlighted various roles played by sport ranging from being a tool for diplomacy and its economic impact through sports tourism.
“I also want to talk about the benefits of us being sport as a tool for diplomacy the effects of community engagement, peace and cohesion.
“We together as Zimbabwe, we are there to assist and facilitate as our mandate, of SRC, is to pave the way for you so that you are able to execute and conduct your activities in a conducive environment.
“And that we avail to you all the resources available to national sport associations as they partake of their activities,” said Nengomasha.
Executive director National Sports Authority Sierra Leone, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai said sport is also key in addressing unemployment challenges.
“I think one of the things that we have done in the continent is that we have underestimated the power of sport. Whatever sport you call it, whether it’s football, whether its basketball, the benefits are enormous.
“Even when you look at the SDGs, sport is one platform that will basically aide in achieving three or four or five of the MDGs. It comes to education, it comes to health, it comes to the physical and mental aspect and it comes to peace and harmony. One of the major development problems that we have in the continent, not just in the continent, but globally is youth unemployment.
“Sports create a platform for young people to not only get employment, but to also follow their passion and I think that we should underscore that.
“Let us take this as a very serious endeavor because traditional Africa Games cannot get lost,” said Abdulai.
Mupure said they have identified facilities to host competition in Harare, Victoria Falls and Bulawayo.
Also present at the signing ceremony were the ZTSGF board member Rixson Makarichi, Tayengwa Takazvirasa, who is the director training and education and Local Organising Committee chairperson Abel Chimukoko.