Golf association charts way forward

ZIMBABWE Golf Association (ZGA) president Martin Chikwana believes their three-day strategic planning meeting which begins today at a local hotel will play an important role in the formulation of a broad vision to ensure the long-term growth of the sport in the country.

ZGA’s inaugural strategic planning meeting will bring together all stakeholders in the local golf fraternity, the Sports and Recreation Commission, the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, the media, the corporate world and other key stakeholders.

Facilitated by renowned sports administrator Robert Mutsauki, the meeting comes at a time when local golf has been in the spotlight following the impressive display by the country’s leading professional golfer Scott Vincent at last year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.

Vincent, who is a product of the country’s junior golf development programmes, was the country’s best performing athlete at the Olympic Games after finishing in a tie for 16th position.

Chikwana, who took over as the ZGA president late last year, said the meeting would help the organisation move forward with a clear vision which has the input from all relevant stakeholders in the sport.

“ e whole idea of the strategic planning was born out of a desire to position our sport in a way that enables us to manage our ideas, ensure that we put together a roadmap for the development of our sport going forward, put timelines and be able to chart a direction that would ensure that all our hopes and aspirations are achieved,” Chikwana said in an interview with IndependentSport yesterday.

“Some of the key pillars that we feel we need to feel are captured include ensuring we have an organisation that’s accountable to its membership,” he said.

“We want to have an organisation that is transparent and run in compliance with corporate government tenants. We have tried to ensure that all such things are incorporated.”

e seasoned administrator, who served as secretary general during the previous executive, said he was pleased with the progress made and the strategic plan would further complement the success.

“Over the past four years under the stewardship of Mufaro Chivonivoni we have managed to stabilise the association to an extent that we are running a very tight ship. We have audited financials produced by our treasurer, we are managing our finances prudently; we are managing the association the best way that we can,” Chikwana said. — Staff Writer.