Kariba Hosts Police sporting Gala 

Admore Mbonda In Kariba

Police officers from Kariba and other stakeholders, took time off their office desk duties to partake in a sporting gala dubbed, `Dispols Sports Gala`, at Lake harvest sports club.

Speaking at the event, chief Superintendent Abigail Sibanda, said the force values its partnership with the community in creating a crime free society as well as ensuring Kariba remains a safe tourist destination.

She also paid tribute to the Commissioner General of police, Godwin Matanga for ensuring the sports gala day is observed every year as it ensures officers get an opportunity to showcase their talents in the various sporting disciplines available.

Speaking at the Event Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, Wildlife officer, Ms Councilia Dahwa said as Zimparks they are worried about kids who are swimming in the crocodile infested lake Kariba especially now, with the high cases of human wildlife conflict.

"We are advising residents and stakeholders in Kariba to take this awareness serious as we might witnesses death by drowning or by crocodiles and hippos," Said Dahwa

She added that fishermen using unregistered boats in lake Kariba will be arrested and their boats will be impounded.

This is also a measure to safeguard human life.

“Cases of elephants roaming the streets of Kariba is caused by bins that are not collected on time,” she said.

Public Mudzinge Coordinator of the UZ-KAP at University of Kariba Lake Kariba Research Station said the University of Zimbabwe, Faculty of Medicine College of Health Sciences through Professor H Matarira is initiating Health research projects in collaboration with ULKRS and the Stakeholders such as, ZRP MHCW, MOK, to tackle Malaria, TB, Covid19, Cancer, Alcohol and Illicit Substance Abuse problems.  It was the best opportunity to have an Information Desk to distribute posters and IEC materials on the above.

"We are very much concerned with the use of drugs in the country by our youths, we are advising them to quit from this act as this will affect their health, cause domestic violence and will also affect growth rate of our young boys and girls" said Mudzinge.

Mudzinge added that as a department they are busy on the ground to get finer details on substances being abused as well as find means of countering the spread amongst the youths. A questionnaire survey was administered to elucidate Stakeholder perceptions on the Alcohol and illicit substances abuse menace.

Members of the public also managed to get time to interact with the police in a relaxed environment away from the charge office.

Several sporting disciplines were showcased including soccer, netball, volleyball, pool, darts, athletics, chess, jumps and throws.