By Jussa Kudherezera
Sakubva swimming pool
The City of Mutare has for some time been accused of failing to keep and maintain social amenities in working and usable condition which has disadvantaged the youths. It is common cause that social amenities such as sports facilities and halls were designed to cater for the social, mental and physical well being of youths and even the youths without which they will find alternatives which may turn out to be harmful for them and community at large such as drug and substance abuse and gangsterism. The local authority stands accused of deliberately turning many social amenities into business or vending sites. These amenities include the iconic Sakubva Beithall grounds which has been turned into a flea market while Chikanga Haarlem grounds is a vegetable market. Sakubva swimming pool is in state of disrepair and the Aloe gardens or main Park is basically a forest and there is no sign that this used to be a world standard manicured park which was a joy to visit.
In the 2023 local authority budget, MAYA understands that City of Mutare budgeted for the repair and restoration of some social facilities such as the swimming pool and sporting grounds and it was expected that this will result in the restoration of some social amenities but the first quarter of the year has already passed without any movement by the local authority towards restoration of the social amenities. The city s only stadium that hosts Premier League matches Sakubva Stadium was suspended by ZIFA from hosting league matches due to the poor condition of the pitch. This means soccer lovers cannot watch their favourite Premier league clubs playing at Sakubva since the local team Manica Diamonds FC has been forced to use Gibbo stadium in Chiredzi.
MAYA has been one of the organizations that has been raising its voice against this abrogation of duty by the city fathers although they met with resistance especially from Mr Mabhobho who leads an organization called Mutare Informal Traders Association (MITA) since he thought that he or his members stood to benefit without due regard to the interests of youths in the city. However flea market traders at Sakubva Beit hall have deserted the place due to low sales and competition from members of the vendors for ED whose membership refuse to pay any levies to council yet sell their wares from anywhere in the city.
MAYA argued that turning social amenities into vending entities However, their argument was that this program was coming at the expense of young people who in this case will be losers and the consequences of turning facilities into a flea market, vegetable markets can make economic sense, however brings no strategic value for the youths who for a long have witnessed the gradual but unfortunate capture of their spaces. Upon close scrutiny this entails that lack of interest is crystal clear on the part of the duty bearers regarding provision of youth friendly spaces and services. MAYA based their argument on Chapter 2, National Objectives and Section 20 subsection 1 (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which states that:
“Youths should have opportunities for recreational activities and access to recreational facilities (e) are protected from harmful cultural practices, exploitation and all forms of abuse”
Furthermore turning of social amenities into markets was going to be a reversal of the constitutionally stated objectives which was going to result in youths dabbling in antisocial activities because they have nowhere to positively expend their energies. The majority of youths in marginalized communities are engaging in drugs, violence, sex and petty crime ostensibly because they have nothing to do. The main reason for the establishment of recreational centres is to be a safe place where youths meet and engage in various ways, social and sporting activities and other less harmful activities. In light of the above, converting recreational facilities therefore means that they would have deprived the younger generation the privilege to maintain physical fitness which is tantamount to a society fighting its own future for the love of money thus MAYA strongly condemned this ‘Iscariot mentality’.
As a youth organization they could not remain silent on the things that matter on the part of the youth and also affect directly or indirectly. They lobbied that the youths must breathe and on that note Mutare is not short of space for flea market and vegetable markets. More so it is a public secret that Chikanga Sports field and Beit Hall has been regarded as a youth centre where indoor and outdoor activities were conducted for the benefit of youths. It is imperative to note that there is a library and child learning Centre as well which has rendered useless.