Academic activities came to a standstill at Solusi University on Thursday the 13th of July 2017, as students and staff spent the whole day at the Sports field engaged in various sporting activities.The institution of higher learning which is run by the Seventh-day Adventist church held a Sports day which is run bi-annually. Activities for the day included the popular soccer, basketball, netball, volleyball while others were engaged in egg race, chess and skipping rope.
Present to grace the occasion was the acting permanent secretary, Dr. Benson Dube who read the speech standing in for the Minister of Sport and Recreation Hon. Makhosini Hlongwani.
“This substantiates that Solusi University understands sport to be key human development. This vehemently contends the narrow perception that sport and recreation activities are for the subaltern and not intellectuals. You will agree with me that it is very rare for universities to shut down their rigid routine intellectual errands in exchange of sport and recreation. However, Solusi University has transcended the ‘ought to be’ function of a university, proving that there is more to knowledge than cramming statistics and philosophies,” said Hlongwane.
He said that most institutions of higher learning especially those that specialize in social sciences would concentrate mostly on lecturers and fellowship more than they would on sport and recreation. Solusi University posed as an exception to most institutions as it proved that sport and recreation activities are a necessary component in relaxing the mind despite a busy lifestyle.
“It will be seriously remiss of me if I do not mention the contribution of sport to the economy and the wellbeing of the society in general. Though it is acceptable that our sport and recreation sector is still growing, I want to underscore the fact that we have individuals within the sector who are paying taxes to the Government through contributing to revenue generation of the fiscus. These structural adjustments we are making to the sport and recreation sector are in tandem with the Zim-Asset blueprint. This policy provides a lifeline through which we can make a huge impact on the economy through employment creation, value addition and beneficiation through sport and recreation,” Hlongwane said.
Steward Health sponsored a greater part of the awards that were given on that day. There were trophies, T-shirts and price money among other awards. Dr. Christopher Thebe, Dean of Students at Solusi University thanked the guests for coming and making the day a success.
“We wish to thank Steward Health for such a good gesture, they have made our day colorful through the awards they gave us. It is not easy to give nowadays because of the harsh economic conditions, but still they gave.”
Dr. Thebe went on to thank the Minister of Sports and his team for coming all the way to Solusi despite their busy schedule.
“I also wish to thank the Minister of Sports and Recreation in absentia Hon. Makhosini Hlongwane, the permanent secretary; Dr. Benson Dube, Director of Sports Matabeleland South; Mr. J. Mpofu, Deputy Director for Sport and Recreation, Matabeleland South; Mr. F. Baloyi, Sport and Recreation officer, Matabeleland South and also Agri bank which was also present to grace the occasion.
Solusi University is an institution that emphasizes the social, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing of person. On this particular day, all the four states were satisfied through sport.
