Lovemore Dube
ENOCK Phiri, a top cyclist from Mimosa Mine in Zvishavane, has challenged mining houses to use sport to promote wellness and fight drug and substance abuse.
He said mining communities have always had fewer entertainment opportunities. Sport, he said, has always been a favourite for many, offering beyond recreation.
“Sport should be used as a tool to fight drug and substance abuse which are very prevalent nowadays,” said Phiri.
He said youths found themselves with nothing to do because facilities have been neglected or companies have stopped sponsoring sports activities.
“I grew up in Zvishavane, there was so much to do. There were several sporting disciplines for one to experiment with. We stayed away from the streets as we were gainfully engaged after school and during weekends or holidays. Today they are all over the streets and vulnerable to social ills and peer pressure,” said Phiri.
Phiri said sports in mining towns saved several purposes.
“We can have sport for recreation, wellness and for podium performance where one can end up a professional athlete,” said Phiri.
Mines have groomed a lot of stars across sporting disciplines and have been a backbone of Zimbabwe sports. However, the last 20 years have seen less sporting activity at mines.
Athletics, track cycling, tug of war and netball are traditional mines sports in Zimbabwe.
Phiri was in the last generation of athletes to take part in the last Chamber of Mines Track, Cycling and Tug of War Championships in 2005. Since then, these sporting disciplines have suffered a knock with a lot of talent lost to substance abuse.