Africanews
To foster the advancement of women and children is one of the most important challenges any African government faces today. In Chitungwiza, a suburban town 25 km from Harare, Zimbabwe, City Council and private initiative have joined hands to launch a sports programme meant exclusively for women and children. |
"It is not the battle of sexes! It is an affirmative action to correct an imbalance that has long existed between man and women especially in our African traditional structures. Our aim is to encourage women and children to take part in sports. Men have had it for too long" says Tendai Kumalo, 35, a primary school teacher by profession. Her two daughters, Mary, 11, and Caroline are taking part in a swimming class a few meters away. The children enjoy themselves tremendously, splashing water on each other, and the instructor has an hard time to maintain discipline.
In 1993 with support from the Norwegian government a "sports for all" programme was launched in Chitungwiza, a working class satellite town of Harare. There was no specific target. Now women and children are the focus of a new initiative launched in early August 1996, as part of a wider campaign to improve health, increase social integration, and above all to involve women in sports.
One of the programme co-ordinators who is also the programme's deputy chairman, Mrs. Ruth Sono, says: "we want the girl children to be more involved in sports as a way of improving their health and gaining more confidence in society. There is a our culture the idea that strenuous sport activity will make a girl loose her virginity. This is not the case, but it has contributed to make of women sport spectators, passively watching men to perform. We want women and children maintain a healthy body, as well as a healthy mind".
Indirectly the programme will tap young sport talent, enhance social interaction within people of different background, create awareness and increasing bondage between mothers and their children or daughters. Mrs. Sono adds that in the past when her little daughter asked her to buy a tennis racket she dismissed the idea as not affordable, but now, after having understood the good that sport can do for her daughter, she is involved with her in raising the money needed saving on other non-necessaries goods, like soda drinks.
The programme will be held for and in the town of Chitungwiza, which is divided into four sections, Seke South, Seke North, Zengeza and St. Marys. So far the programme has raised Z$5,000 (US$500) although they are looking for as much as Z$200,000 - US$ 20,000. They are appealing for financial and material aid from any body, the donor or business community.
Mrs. Sono said the money will be used to upgrade sports infrastructure, purchase equipment and provide tokens for winners. A current account has already been opened with the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe. The Sports Commission will audit its finances. About 500 women and a great but yet uncounted number of children are participating, while more register daily. The programme includes netball, football, tennis, aerobics, gymnastics, nhodo, handball. A sports festival will be held on the 5th of October, to display the skills already acquired and to encourage others to join.
Speaking at the official launch of the programme, the acting mayor of the town, which was recently accorded municipal status, Mr. Andrew Jiri, told a partisan crowd composed mainly of women and children that this was only the beginning and that he would love to see more Chitungwiza residents in the Zimbabwe national teams. In order to encourage competition among the four sections, the mayor promised the "Mayor's Trophy" which the participants will duel for. He also urged the women and children to use the facilities available.
Chitungwiza, the country's third most populated town, boasts of the most expensive international standard (Olympic size) aquatics complex, which was built for Z$87.5 million in its soils just before the 1995 All African Games. Apart from that is has modern tennis courts, a soccer stadium and multi-purpose halls.
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