By Zivanai Dhewa
The Athletes Relief Fund that was launched in July to cushion the sporting fraternity, following their financial constraints caused by cancelled events or competition due to Covid-19 is being disbursed to approved applicants, The Harare Post can report.
In a press statement, the Ministry of Youths, Sport, Arts and Recreation said, “We would like to advise our athletes and stakeholders that the processing of applications was done by the Sport and Recreation Commission, the Zimbabwe Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZBWCB) and at provincial level and now activating the actual disbursements of the $10 million Athletes Relief Funds to intended beneficiaries who should start receiving the funds in their preferred accounts.
“The Ministry is in the process of administering the Athletes Relief Fund and, to date, we have received a total number of 2 328 which have been approved for payment. The state figure includes the 382 approved applicants from the National Sports Associations, 1 890 approved applicants from the Provinces (Community Sport and Recreation Clubs) and 48 approved applicants from the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board.
“The Ministry and its agencies, Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) and the Zimbabwe Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZBWCB) are in the final stages of concluding the process which entailed receiving, processing and documenting applications, convening Provincial Selection Committee meetings and compiling lists of those applications recommended for approval to start receiving the relief funds and those not recommended so that we understand the reasons for rejection and craft intervention measures where necessary,” read part of the press statement.
Meanwhile, the Ministry has indicated that its selection will be based on following fundamental principles, such as the registration by the Sports Commission under the SRC Act and the BWCB registration and recognition by the Ministry, compliance to Governing Acts and statutes of Sports and Recreation in the country, funding declarations from international, Continental, Regional and National bodies and submission of forfeited events, activities and frozen sources of funding or income among other requirements.
Different sporting fraternities that have received the relief funding are Netball, Aquatics, Tennis, Rugby, Paralympics and Special Olympics amongst others.
