MILDRED MAZARIRE
MASVINGO-A group of local basketball players have joined a collaborative campaign to address drug and substance abuse in the community.
This strategic move follows the launch of the Zimbabwe Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan 2024-2030 by the government, which aims to reduce drug demand and supply by 85 percent by 2030.
The Chivara Panthers basketball club, founded in 2009 and active since 2016, is currently recruiting players from surrounding schools and honing their skills to enable them to play at the international stage.
George Mufaro Mudukuti, one of the club’s co-founders, said the club was formed by people living in Sisk Masvingo, including himself, Mr. Mhike, and Mr. Rusoso, who started recruiting players from the local high schools.
The Chivara Panthers captain, Trevor Njinga, stated that the club has 16 players, four of whom are seniors, him includeas well as Elton Chikamhi, Leopard Chidende and Ronald Mawoyo.
“Chivara Panthers is the first and leading team in the Masvingo Basketball Association,” Njinga said.
Despite their success, the club faces challenges in qualifying for the national competitions.
Njinga cited a lack of sponsors, team members’ inability to afford the $20 per person fee to sustain themselves, and the lack of proper basketball courts in Masvingo as the main reasons.
Mudukuti, who also serves as the president of the Masvingo Basketball Association and the coach of Chivara Panthers, said the club’s main aim is to keep the youth busy and away from drugs.
He expressed frustration with the lack of support from the community, as some people still view basketball as an “English sport.”
The club’s strategic move to join the drug and substance abuse prevention campaign is a testament to their commitment to addressing this pressing issue in the community.
By leveraging the power of basketball, the Chivara Panthers hope to inspire and empower the youth to make positive choices and lead healthy, drug-free lives, added Mudukuti.
