This will be different from the past where provinces paid for their participation and not for an individual athlete.Speaking at the launch of the games on Friday, Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) spokesperson Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said provinces had failed to pay participation fees, hence the new payment arrangement.
“We have been having problems with provinces as they took their time in paying their participation fees. Other provinces have not been paying at all and that is why we have decided that every participant pay a participation fee of US$50,” Nheweyembwa said.
This move might force many provinces to reduce the number of participants that are going to grace the occasion thereby dealing a blow to the feeder system for our national teams. Nheweyembwa added that in future provinces were going to bid for the right to host the games. The estimated budget for the games has been pegged at US$2 million, both in cash and kind. The dates of the annual event could not be released as the organisers are going to stand guided by the national census programme which is set for August this year.
Nheweyembwa however praised the rotation system which he said had left a legacy in many provinces.
“The rotational system left a legacy in many provinces as most of them had no sporting facilities but after hosting the games a number of sporting facilities are all over the place. Special mention on Matabeleland South who renovated Pelandaba Stadium with Masvingo also renovating Mucheke Stadium to better standards.
