Minister Makhosini Hlongwane
Ellina Mhlanga Harare Bureau
SPORT and Recreation Minister, Makhosini Hlongwane, has indicated that there is going to be a turnaround in the way women’s football is run and treated in the country. Speaking to our Harare Bureau on Monday after a meeting with the Sports Commission, Zifa and Zimbabwe Women’s Football, Hlongwane said they had agreed on a number of issues that will help pave way for the development of women’s football.
“One of the decisions that we took is that Zifa must treat women’s football in the same way that it treats male or men’s football,” said Hlongwane.
“That means in terms of support provided to women’s and men’s football, there must be equitability because women’s football is not yet that developed. Equitable distribution means you work a percentage based on the representation. So there must be equitable resource distribution to both women and men.
“We agreed that should apply in terms of logistical support and resource mobilisation. “We agreed that women’s football structures themselves should necessarily have a resource mobilisation strategy instead of always going around with a begging bowl. They must have a resource mobilisation strategy of their own.
Hlongwane said he is going to engage Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Lazarus Dokora, to introduce women’s football in all schools throughout the country. “This is important in order to change the attitudes but also to develop and identify more talent of female footballers in order to strengthen our national teams. “As government, we have agreed that sport should be mainstreamed into the education curriculum.
“Secondary to that, we also agreed that all universities and colleges must all introduce women’s football starting next year,” said Hlongwane.
The Minister said the current squabbles within the women’s football structures are a hindrance to the development of the sport. The squabbles have seen two leagues being run with acting ZWF chairperson Elizabeth Langa leading one league while the other is run by Miriam Sibanda. Hlongwane said they have tasked the Sports Commission with the responsibility to resolve the impasse within the women’s football board so that there is tranquillity within the leadership.
Sports Commission director general Charles Nhemachena yesterday said they were coming in to ensure that there is development in women’s football. Nhemachena said there was need to consolidate the two leagues. He added that they will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to resolve the issue.
Commenting on Mirriam Sibanda’s suspension, Nhemachena said:
“It was noted that the constitution is not clear on the way forward given the fact that women’s football don’t have a constitution.We have asked for legal opinion from the Zifa lawyer and we are expecting feedback during the course of the week.”