Tanzania: Reforms in sports policy begin

TANZANIA has begun to reform the four-decade old sports policy in an endeavour to make it suit the modern day’s age of professionalism.

Earlier than anticipated the reforms campaign was launched when the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports officially invited sports stakeholders to start giving their contributions to the reformation of the existing sport which was found not to reflect the realities of the current sport industry and largely limits its development.

The ministry’s Communication Officer, Zawadi Msala made the announcement in Dar es Salaam in a meeting with reporters that the draft in place has incorporated contributions from direct stakeholders and added that further contribution was needed for further improvement of the proposed draft.

“Sports fans and stakeholders can get the new draft on the ministry’s official website www. habari.go.tz and the contributions can be sent through wananchi official website www. wananchi.go.tz or by email to nicholausbulamile@habari.

go.tz or submitted direct to our office at Golden Jubilee Tower building in Dar es Salaam city centre,” she said A fortnight ago,the Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, during a meeting with leaders of sports associations and members of National Sports Council (NSC) at the National Stadium, said the government was serious in its goal to make reforms in sports, currently one of the biggest employers of youth.

These reforms meant to do away with the past status that restricted it to an amateur and free entertainment status, instead to change it to a professional status that can employ youth and generate income to both players and their nation.

The efforts include, first to create a community that is active in sport and physical exercises for health of the whole Tanzanian community and motivate progress of the whole sport industry.

She added that in a long run the new policy is destined to generate a high quality sports professionals, improve the contracts, and initiate incorporative information system, progressive development in touristic sports and to have a investments that cutter for demands in sport sector.

Also, the new policy, according to the ministry, will take into consideration the protection of sports men against HIV, enlighten on issues of health of sportsmen and women by providing health insurance, prevention and treatment while preventing drug abuse and illegalities. “We also want it to establish a proper channel for regulations and management of all sports,” she elaborated.

The contributions are scheduled to start from February 29 to March 5 this year. She urged sports fans, sports lovers and stakeholders to massively engage towards the essential change in sports industry since it will benefit all sportsmen, women, investors and the nation as a whole.

The existing sports policy of 1967 states that all sports in the country should be practiced at amateur level, contrary to the present reality when sports are employment and income generating sector.

In 2013, legislators demanded for an immediate review of the country’s sports policy, saying unless the document is updated, sports will remain stagnant in.

Earlier in June 2011 in Dodoma, the former Sports Minister, Dr Fenella Mukangara said government was in the final process to review its sports policy in a bid to develop, promote and revive various sports in the country.

She told the house that the new policy will point the alternative way forward to develop sports at all levels.

With President Magufuli stand to widen up the national generating income sources and improve the lives of the common Tanzanian this reformation has come at the right time to achieve the country vision.