Minister appeals for support to revive Tongogara United

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo has appealed to the business community and development partners to help revive Tongogara United Football Club, describing the team's collapse as a setback for efforts to transform Tongogara Refugee Settlement into a fully-fledged service centre.

Speaking on the sidelines of World Refugee Day commemorations at Tongogara Refugee Settlement in Chipinge, Moyo said the club's suspension due to financial constraints was demoralising for the refugee community and deprived young players of opportunities to showcase their talent.

"It is a big worry. I was not aware that due to funding problems the team's operations collapsed. I want to appeal to the business community and other partners to come to the rescue of the team," Moyo said.

"It is important that recreation be afforded to this community. This team was already playing Division One football."

The minister said sport has the potential to transform lives and pointed to several international footballers with refugee backgrounds who are competing at the highest level.

He cited players such as Alphonso Davies of Canada, Germany's Antonio Rüdiger, France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, and Australia's Awer Mabil and Nestroy Irankunda as examples of former refugees who have excelled in international football.

"Some of the players featuring at the ongoing World Cup are former refugees. I think we can do the same as Zimbabwe," Moyo said.

"This team has been doing so well, and it is demoralising to this community that this team is no longer playing."

He said government remains committed to improving living conditions at Tongogara Refugee Settlement, which is being developed into a service centre offering education, healthcare and sustainable livelihood opportunities through agricultural projects.

"As Government, we have committed to provide services, and this settlement is now a service centre where we provide education, healthcare and sustainable livelihoods through agricultural projects," he said.

ZIFA Eastern Region administrator Fungayi Munyoro-Chingaira described Tongogara United's withdrawal from the ZIFA Pacific Storm Eastern Region Division One League as a significant loss for the competition.

She said the club brought diversity to the league, with players drawn from Burundi, Mozambique, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.

"We hope that next season they will be able to find adequate funding and return to the league," Munyoro-Chingaira said.

"The team did not collapse and their slot is reserved for next season. The team is dearly missed, especially the electric atmosphere that was there when they played at home."

The appeal comes as stakeholders seek to improve opportunities for refugees through sport, skills development and community programmes, with hopes that Tongogara United can secure sponsorship and resume participation in Division One football next season.