Director For Acacia Sports Academy Ishmael Mlambo Fights Drug Abuse Amongst Youths
By Desire Tshuma
Ishmael Mlambo , the founder and director for the Acacia Sports Academy which is headquartered in Harare, has gone an extra mile in fighting the scourge of drug abuse amongst youths by establishing all sporting disciplines in schools.
Mr Mlambo, a young man who owns Acacia Sports Academy in Marondera, has taken heed of President Mnangagwa’s call to end drug abuse amongst youths by engaging primary, secondary, colleges and universities in Zimbabwe in the establishment of all sporting disciplines so as to keep them occupied so that they desist from taking drugs.
“I have been active in martial arts only and have trained children who are as young as four years to secondary level at Acacia Sports Academy. We have been to international competitions and we managed to raise our national flag, last year we traveled internationally and won several medals,” said Mlambo.
“This initiative will definitely yield good results in terms of fighting this serious drug menance amongst youths as they will be kept occupied in sports,” added Mlambo.
This publication managed to speak to Member of Parliament for Marondera East Honourable Vimbai Mutokonyi who has been very supportive in the establishment of Acacia Sports Academy and said he has spoken to the school heads in his constituency about the initiative and they welcomed the initiative.
“We have 17 schools in my constituency and as for now I have spoken to 4 schools and they are very happy about this and we are still consulting others which I definitely believe they will also welcome this idea,” said Hon Mutokonyi. He said that there are some sporting disciplines that used to be done by urban schools which were considered to be only for elite schools – like chess, cricket, basketball, tennis etc – that he wants to be introduced to rural schools.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary education has also welcomed the initiative and arrangements for the introduction of these sporting facilities are at an advanced stage.
Other top government officials which this publication spoke to who also welcomed this life-saving initiative are; Deputy Minister of Sports Recreation, Arts and Culture Honourable Emily Jesaya, Honourable Oppah Muchinguri, and Hunyani Constituency MP Tongai Mnangagwa.
The program will start from district level up to the national level where competitions will start.
Ishmael Mlambo was talented at school in sports especially in athletics, soccer and volleyball. During his school days he represented his school at zonal, district, provincial and national level. Mlambo holds a degree in martial arts.
Currently he is the National Deputy Secretary for legal affairs in a powerful affiliate and also stands as district secretary for legal affairs for Zimbabwe National Service.
