SHANNISE DZOBO
MASVINGO – Masvingo Remand Prison bagged the first position at the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Officer Commanding (OC) sports gala.
The annual sports extravaganza was held last weekend at Mutimurefu Prison.
OC sports gala was put in place to promote health lifestyle for officers and this year’s event was running under the theme “Enhancing Corrections Through Sport”.
The sport gala was graced by all three main stations and 5 satellite stations in Masvingo Province which include officers from Chiredzi, Gutu, Mwenezi, Bikita, Chivi, Zaka, Masvingo Province, Masvingo Remand and Mutimurefu prisons.
The stations participated in netball, soccer, volleyball, darts, chess, athletics, pool and tug of war.
Commissioner Nelson Chikwature said he was moved by the unifying power of sports for it gives a message of solidarity, peace and hope as they move together.
“This annual sport event is in preparation of the annual national Commissioner General sports week gala to be held later this year and this provincial gala has stunned us with different achievements and we are moved by this unifying power of sports for it gives us a message of solidarity, peace and it gives hope in our journey together,” said Chikwature.
“My deepest gratitude goes to all our stakeholders and sponsors who contributed their resources so as to make this sport gala a success and we hope to continue working together as we always do”.
Commissioner Chikwature went on to say that ZPCS as an organisation offers a variety of business opportunities in infrastructure development courtesy of their building brigade and also other joint venture opportunities are found in agricultural ranging from horticulture, aquaculture and poultry products.
“Through the National Development Strategy 1(NDS1), as an organisation we have decentralized business activities hence we call upon all entrepreneurs within the province to exploit business opportunities,” said Chikwature.
Guest of honour, the running candidate of Zanu PF Masvingo North constituency Brian Mudhumi also applauded the promotion of sports for the officers so as to reduce the abuse of drugs.
“I want to register my profound gratitude to Commissioner Chikwature for organising such a sport gala and for those who have supported this event should continue supporting ZPCS in the following years for they are doing it for a good cause”, said Mudhumi.
“Sport is not all about competition but also for having fun, to maintain a healthy lifestyle being physically fit, learning the basic rules of sports, building co-ordination and team work/building”.
Apco Godfrey Tirivavi and Coreectional Officer1 Rumbidzayi Mabhiza are the provincial sports officers in Masvingo.
Chiredzi Prison were crowned the best soccer team and the top goal scorer was Correctional Officer 3(CO3) Makasva from the same station, player of the tournament was CO1 Chikodza of Masvingo Remand prison, goal keeper of the tournament was CO1 Mhlanga from Chiredzi prison station and the most senior player of the tournament was PCO Mberi and the second position was taken by Masvingo Remand prison.
Masvingo Remand prison also took the first position for netball and the best scorer was CO1 Maimba and best player was CO1 Nyararai, on second position was Mutimurefu prison station and third position was Masvingo provincial station.
Masvingo province station took the first position for volleyball with best female player CO3 Badza, best male player CO1 Jumi and the second position was Mutimurefu prison and third position went to Masvingo Remand station.
In athletics, females category CO1 Tazvinga from Mutimurefu prison came first and CO1 Chikwanda from the provincial station came first in the male category.
Masvingo province station were crowned champions for pool, while Masvingo Remand prison station came second and on third position was Mutimurefu prison station and the best player was CO1 Zuvaracho and the Break and Stick award was given to COO Sasa.
In the chess discipline first position went to Masvingo Remand station, on second position was Masvingo Province station and the best player was CO1 Mahwire and the darts category Chiredzi station came first and the second position went to Masvingo province station and the best player was Apco Manhodo and the highest closing was Chirongoma.
Other stakeholders present were ZB bank, Econet, New Horizon Pharmacy, Moonlight Funeral Services, Nyaradzo Group, POSB, CBZ bank and EMRAS amongst others.
All teams that came first are going to participate at the national Commissioner General Sports gala later this year.
