Female Achievers In Sport Deserve Better!

I am so angry with how female sportspersons are treated in this country! I hate boxing but we have a female boxer that has done very well on the world stage, and was defending her title in Harare.

When I did not see instant coverage about the bout I figured she must have lost, but then the result could have been added in the newspapers as a late news item. After all the bout started at 9pm.

**Kudakwashe “Take Money” Chiwandire (L) v Zulina Munoz at the HICC last Friday night**

Imagine my surprise when I googled her name Chiwandire out of curiosity, only to find that she actually won by a unanimous points decision. She beat a Mexican woman who is ranked number 7 in the world and she is only ranked 50-something or lower. If that’s not history making, I don't know what is!!

This is so wrong and unfair. The bout was postponed three times, was almost cancelled because of lack of sponsorship, I think government came to the rescue last minute.

Women athletes need to succeed, because when they succeed it benefits the family and their community. It's time sporting excellence is recognised even as a poverty reduction strategy. Thank God I am going to church this morning for a memorial service, otherwise I am fit to commit murder.

I see this pattern over and over. Look at the Gems our national netball team! It would not surprise me if they even drive to Cape Town for the World Netball championship next year. They recently qualified for the WC after travelling by bus to Pretoria and arriving just in time for their first match! What reward did they get?

To be frank female sports is keeping our flag high in the world stage. Anyway I have gotten it off my chest, but I am pissed!!

About the Writer

Julia Tagwireyi is a member of the NEPAD Food Security and Nutrition Expert Panel. She is also a member of the ATONU International Advisory Group for the Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture, a project being implemented by the Food Agriculture Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN). She has a wealth of experience in Advocacy, Strategic Planning and Nutrition spanning more than 40 years. She is also a published author