The Sunday News
ACCORDING to St John’s Gospel, Thomas the Apostle missed one of Jesus’ appearances to the Apostles after His resurrection, and said “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”
A week later Jesus appeared and told Thomas to touch Him and stop doubting. Then Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We know that even today, following that Biblical incident, someone who is obstinately sceptical and demanding of empirical proof is referred to as a “doubting Thomas.”
On Friday evening, the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games draw was conducted at a Bulawayo hotel.
And if there were any doubting Thomases in our midst, it should be through that momentous event, that the doubts should have been put to rest. Yes, indeed the 6th edition of the Games will be hosted in the City of Kings and Queens.
The sceptics, even when President Mugabe had already lit the Games torch, all but signalling his approval for the Games to be hosted by this city, should be now wallowing in shame following the colourful ceremony, that was beamed live on local television, and was attended by representatives of the 11 participating countries.
But it shouldn’t end there.
With the regional organising committee having given us until 15 November, to hand over the various facilities that are undergoing a facelift, the challenge is now on all of us the stakeholders in Bulawayo to plug any holes that still remain for our proud city to host the best ever games in this region.
Already by virtue of being awarded the rights to host this regional showcase, Zimbabwe in general and Bulawayo in particular stands to benefit a lot from the legacy of hosting these youth Games.
The benefits include user friendly soccer, athletics, judo, swimming, boxing venues, among other facilities.
Albeit in the short term, those in the city’s hospitality industry stand to rake in thousands of dollars in terms of improved hotel occupancy during the Games.
But above all, there will be definitely no substitute for the spirit of solidarity, promotion of ideals of peace, brotherhood, camaraderie and Pan-African Unity, as rightly expressed by Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa on Friday evening.
“The preparations for the spectacular sport extravaganza have been thorough, heavy, and at times difficult. The involvement of the Regional Organising Committee, the Sport Confederations was a great support to my compatriots in the local organising committee. We arrive at this Games draw with satisfaction that the Games will certainly make Zimbabwe and Bulawayo in particular reach for greatness,’’ Langa reminded us.
He added: “The Games are here and we are ready to win and together we will reach For Greatness.”
YES! Let’s feel it, its here. The Region Five Games are upon us.
And to our visitors in December we say expect our friendly weather, our friendly people, and generally our unparalled friendliness as a peaceful sport loving nation. And the City of Kings and Queens, won’t disappoint you, more so, as this biennial event comes at a time when Bulawayo is celebrating 120 years of existence as a city.
And above all as the chairperson of the regional organising committee Mvuzo Mbebe said:
“Bulawayo, the City of Kings and Queens always strives for greatness. It is also where one of the greatest rulers to ever emerge in Africa, King Mzilikazi settled.’’
It is against this background that we should appreciate the efforts of President Mugabe in directing that the Games be held in Bulawayo. It is now a tired song that some quarters have always come up with unfortunate statements and opinions that Bulawayo and its surroundings were being marginalised and we believe that the hosting of these games put to rest such divisive statements.
By giving these Games to Bulawayo, President Mugabe and his Government have shown beyond doubt that there is no discrimination in the treatment of our people and their areas.
What is left now is for the people of Bulawayo to show support for the Games by attending in their thousands so as to generate an electric atmosphere at the venues.
