Camera, Chpra fire salvo at Chitown Municipality o...

Camera, Chpra fire salvo at Chitown Municipality over proposed disposal of popular grounds

Zim Now Writer

The Chitungwiza and Manyame Residents Association, together with the Chitungwiza Progressive Residents Association have formally written to Chitungwiza Municipality, objecting the proposed sale of Zengeza 5 Grounds.

This comes as Chitungwiza Municipality recently flighted a notice that it will be disposing of the ground in fulfillment of the deed of settlement in the matter between the Unified Council Pension Fund and Chitungwiza Municipality HC10137/19.

The notice invited objections from residents on the proposed sale of the land.

Camera and Chpra join soccer legends who honed their skills in the various grounds dotted around Chitungwiza, some of which have been disposed of by the municipality already to give way to the construction of houses and shops, in raising concern at the proposed sale of Zengeza 5 Grounds, arguing that the local authority had failed to see the recreational value the grounds offered to the community.

Camera and Chpra, in a letter addressed to Chitungwiza Municipality Town Clerk said the loss of the ground would lead to youths being idle, resulting in them engaging in vices such as drugs and dangerous substances.

“The Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association, in partnership with the Chitungwiza Prpogressive Residents Association write rejecting the proposed disposal of Zengeza 5 football ground by the Chitungwiza Municipality …. This is happening in the midst of a sharp increase in drug and substance abuse in Chitungwiza, despite the declaration of war against all forms of drug and substance abuse by the government,” the letter, which is signed by Camera director Marvelous Kumalo and Chipra secretary-general, Gift Kurupati.

The two organisation further say in the letter that as residents and stakeholders, they do not see any merit in the proposal by the local authority that can justify the disposal of the grounds, “one of the few remaining in the community”.

“Research argues that lack of entertainment combined with idleness and brain frustration attribute to a greater extent for individuals resorting to drug and substance abuse,” reads the letter, adding that sport and recreation is proven to be a tool that can be very useful in fighting scourge of drug and substance abuse.

“Through engaging in diversified sporting activities such as netball, football, volleyball, athletics and other disciplines, it is believed that it bridles drug and substance abuse in the community as it significantly reduces idleness and simulates effective brain cell regeneration,” the letter further reads.

This is in line with government as well as global drives against drugs and substance abuse.

A few days ago, soccer legends from Chitungwiza, led by Alois Bunjira, former Soccer Star of The Year Stewart Murisa and Craneborne Bullets Assistant Coach, Ernest Jamu expressed their displeasure that Chitungwiza Municipality even thought of disposing of the grounds in the first place.

They argued that it was one of the few grounds remaining after council sold off the others where yesteryear players such as Alois Godzi, Murisa, the Kawondera brothers, Murisa and current ones who include Ronald Pfumbidzai, Chamboko and Lee Murape among others started off.