-hosts Constituency sports gala
SHANNISE DZOBO
GUTU-The briefly disbanded Gutu South Constituency was a hive of activity on Africa Day as children, youths and adults thronged Maungwa Secondary School for a fun filled sports extravaganza, courtesy of MP Pupurai Togarepi.
Locals competed against Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officers in various sporting disciplines as a way of honoring the day the Organisation of African Unity, succeeded by the African Union was birthed.
The sports gala which was sponsored by Togarepi who is also the Zanu PF Chief Whip and Pan African Parliament member was not only meant to unify the constituency, but to also showcase talent among the locals as well as fighting the scourge of drug and substance abuse which is now rampant in the country.
There were four soccer teams, two netball teams, two volleyball teams, two darts teams and two pool teams from both ZPCS and Gutu South constituency.
In his opening remarks, Togarepi said he keen on harnessing the potential in the Constituency for purposes of development through sport.
He added that the success of the galas over the years is a clear testimony that there is something to be gained from the event which has become a permanent feature on the calendar of the Constituency.
“My aim as the legislature of this constituency is to ensure that I harness the talents we have in this constituency and develop them to be useful to their families and the community at large,” Togarepi stressed.
“This valuable partnership with Masvingo ZPCS, I believe we are helping and teaching our youths that being involved in drug and substance abuse is not something to be proud of and to let them know that if they are found using such drugs they will go behind bars and kept away from their families which will be a punishment and an example to others,” said the soft spoken legislator.
The guest of honor, Bindura North MP Kenneth Musanhi also applauded such a commitment in fighting drug abuse in the constituency and encouraged the community to embrace farming as a way to earn their living so as to stop drug abuse.
“I am very impressed by these social sport galas for they are helping distract our youths in the use of dangerous drugs which are at their disposal.
“I am also encouraging you all to venture into farming so that you earn a decent living by selling your agricultural produce,” said Musanhi.
“I am going to give your MP liquid fertilizer so that you use it in what we call ‘tired soils’ in this constituency and I am telling you it is going to do wonders in this constituency if you use it well,” added Musanhi.
One of ZPCS sport facilitators and multi award winning golfer, Rumbidzai Mabiza encouraged the ZPCS officers and youths of Gutu constituency to venture into sports so that they live a healthy life and desist from abusing drugs.
ZPCS soccer team walked away with the trophy, gold medals and USD$150 and the second place went to teams from Gutu South and for their efforts received USD$100 and on third position was ZPCS Mutimurefu inmates who got USD$80 and medals.
Gutu South netball team took the first position and walked away with USD$100 a trophy and gold medals, ZPCS netball team took the second place and walked away with USD$80 and silver medals and the third place was taken by one of the Gutu South constituency teams who got USD$50 and medals.
ZPCS volleyball team came first and Gutu South took the second position and they both walked away with monetary prizes.
Darts and pool games were dominated by ZPCS and they also walked away with monetary prizes.
Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Lovemore Matuke and Robson Mavhenyengwa the Masvingo Provincial Zanu PF chairperson also graced the event.
In the preliminary report to Parliament, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had disbanded Gutu South Constituency before it made a summersault in the final report and restored the Constituency at the expense of Gutu North.
