HARARE – The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee has challenged the media to use their links with the corporate world to market sport development initiatives in the country.
Stephen Mudawarima, the ZOC chief executive officer, was speaking at a signing ceremony of a newly-established partnership between the Sports Writers Association of Zimbabwe (SWAZ) and prominent sports consultant Tinashe “TK” Kitchen.
As part of the memorandum of understanding, TK will take over management of the Zimbabwe Sports Media Awards, SWAZ’s flagship event, to enlist sponsorship and organize the prize-giving banquet.
Mudawarima said such joint efforts at building sport were a necessity if Zimbabwe was to attain or maintain its world-class status.
“I would urge both sports journalists and event managers like TK to also look into raising the profile of our sportspersons.
“As ZOC we are soon opening our Olympic Museum and will be honouring our sports legends. They have represented the country at events like Olympics and world championships but few people know about them.
“The media can help in profiling these sportspersons while corporates can use them as role models or for marketing their products. This will help in spreading our Olympic values,” Mudawarima enunciated.
TK pledged to upgrade the ZSMA to befitting status as a major event on the calendar.
“Our aim is to honour journalists who tell us the story about something very near and dear to our hearts which is sport.
“We want the public to understand that journalism is not just one of the professions that we don’t give value as we should.”
TK, who is already involved in marketing several events including the Zimbabwe American Football Association and the National Art Merit Awards (Nama), outlined the roadmap towards the sport media awards and promised a glittering occasion.
The ZSMA have been running since 2020 and will be in their edition this year. Winners were last year crowned in different categories ranging from football, boxing, netball, rugby, cricket and golf.
The event takes place each year on Unity Day Eve.
Speaking after signing the agreement, SWAZ executive chairman Goodwill Zunidza, said the noble exercise was intended to reward sports journalists, broadcasters and photographers for their hard work.
“This is a great milestone in the 50-year history of SWAZ. The ZSMA which was launched only three years ago has already come of age,” he said.
