Finance and Economic Development Minister Prof. Mthuli Ncube in his 2019 budget announcement Thursday, said government will prioritise Sport and Recreation Promotion and Development.
In his speech Professor Ncube said the country’s facilities needed to catch up with the rest of the world.
“There is a deliberate intention to resuscitate and or develop multipurpose Sport and Recreation facilities throughout the country to attain world standards,” he said.
“This comes at a time when the nation is set to host the COSAFA and All Africa Games in 2019.”
He said the resuscitation will target major sport facilities which include Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex and Khumalo Hockey Stadium as a priority as it cascades to other towns.
The 2019 Budget allocated US$9.1 million for the development.
Turning to the Arts and Culture Promotion and Development Minister Ncube said that the Creative Cultural Industry practitioners require a conducive working environment to increase the quality of products needed to grow the export quota of Cultural and Creative goods and services.
“The target is to have at least one (1) Creative Culture Industry (CCI) space in the 73
Districts,” he said.
“This will result in employment creation for youths and women, improved house hold income and welfare, developed infrastructure and most importantly increased contribution of arts and culture to National Gross Domestic Product.
He also said that there was deliberate need to develop and support platforms that afford artists and communities’ with opportunities to interface, stimulate local economies, and drive domestic and cultural tourism.
“Further to the above, establishment of an Arts Development Fund will help grow the creative and cultural industry and increase the sector’s visibility by capacitating artists so that they initiate and implement viable projects.
He allocated US$1.5 million for establishment of an Arts Development Fund.
A total of $53.5 million was allocated to Kirsty Coventry’s ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation
The money will among other things cover for national teams expenses.
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