By Tapiwa Mutonhodzi
The disqualification of the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to hold an AFCON qualifier match between Zimbabwe and Algeria has opened a can of worms within the MDC run urban Councils. Their uncultured maladministration of the urban councils has affected Zimbabwe’s sporting activities through gross neglect of the country’s stadiums, bathing pools and other sport and recreational facilities across the country. The MDC has been involved in corrupt activities of using council funds for personal aggrandisement while failing to maintain and refurbish the country’s sports infrastructure over the years.
During the MDC provincial assembly meeting held recently in Bulawayo, the MDC leader Nelson Chamisa admitted that his party members were involved in abuse of office. He said party members who were involved in the abuse of office were councillors and national assembly members to which he bemoaned that such behaviour was bringing the party into disrepute.
The MDC’s reputation of lining their pockets with service delivery money, has culminated in the gross negligence to maintain the sporting infrastructure, subsequently leading to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) banning the use of Barbourfields, Gwanzura, Rufaro and the National Sports Stadium from being used for international matches.
MDC Town Councils have the responsibility to refurbish stadiums, swimming baths, sport and recreational centres across the urban cities, they have failed. The people have come up in arms, blaming the MDC for harbouring a hidden agenda aimed at tarnishing the Government and country’s image and to cause disgruntlement amongst the sportspersons and their supporters.
The decision by CAF to ban football matches in Zimbabwe has put a dent of the country’s seriousness and commitment to sport. This has caused gross embarrassment to the country and Government in particular.
Setting the record straight, it is MDC responsibility to ensure that urban sport facilities are kept up to date, cities are kept clean, roads in the Central Business District and in the suburbs are refurbished, however due to corrupt activities within the MDC none of the above have been implemented.
The whole urban infrastructure has been abandoned in a deplorable state as a deliberate way to embarrass the Government. There has been a recent outcry on the appalling state of public toilets which again the MDC has ignored just like they have abandoned cleaning drainages in the city centre, leading to clogs and flooding of the city during rainy season.
The issue of rundown urban infrastructure has affected the country’s image, status, and the citizens; it is about time that the people bring the MDC leadership to task about failed service delivery, most of all they should consider who they vote for next time they are in the ballot cubicle.
