MBABANE – Following the delay of passing of the Sports Bill into law, Parliament has moved a ‘Motion without Notice’ for the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, to answer on it within 21 days.
The motion was raised in Parliament on Wednesday by Madlangampisi Member of Parliament (MP) Sibusiso ‘Scorpion’ Nxumalo. Nxumalo called upon the ministry to update the house on the bill and pilot it. “To move that that honourable Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs pilot a Sports Bill that will establish a national sport fund that through a levy in order to ensure that professional sustainability to our sporting in the country and in support of competency based education policy adopted by government,” argued Nxumalo.
The motion was seconded by Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo. MP Nxumalo who is also Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Executive Member argued that the Bill, if enacted would help the country focus on the future. Nxumalo said it provided a support system for young talent.
“This will also assist the country with sports infrastructures, as opposed to playing home games for international competitions away. It will also assist in professionalising the elite league so the athletes get compensated as opposed to only relying on the ministry’s incentive,” said Nxumalo. The Sports Bill has not been enacted into law since its drafting. Once it becomes an Act, it has the potential to bring about E150 million to E200 million per year for sports through the national sport fund.
Construction
Football stands to get a lion’s share of about 60 per cent. This money, among other benefits, could help in the construction of a stadiums, grants to teams, sports facilities, as well as professionalising sports. Responding to the motion, the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Harries ‘Madze’ Bulunga appreciated the motion and promised the house a comprehensive report on the Bill. “We do not object anywhere as a ministry; it is part of our duties to have such Acts so that the sports become fully recognised by government. We also believe that this will motivate the private sector to invest and increase their sponsorship for sports,” replied Bulunga.
The former footballer and Sihlangu coach also added that it was his wish that the Bill gets promulgated into a Act during his tenure before the end of this year. “What held us is a cabinet decision. As you benchmark and set-up the Sports Bill, it emerged that there needs to be a structure that is established and regulated to house and operationalise the act, which is the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council. At the same vein, the house shall recall that government is looking at some ways to trim its state-owned enterprises,” added the Mbabane East MP.
He promised that the report the house requested within the three weeks would have more flesh on the matter as the motion passed. Worth mentioning is that the income that can be generated is more than 10 times the current annual sports budget. The budget for sports announced this year shot up to over E19.5 million from about E7.5 million.
