Crisis will make Zimbabwe lose out on 2010 World Cup riches

By Lance Guma
01 September 2006

Zimbabwe government officials are making frantic efforts to try and cash in on South Africa’s hosting of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Its reported the officials are trying to get the country made an official games venue and provide camp locations for competing teams. This is designed to try and promote the country as a tourist destination. The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is said to be making enquiries on whether some of these proposals will be acceptable to the organisers.

As with all things Zimbabwean, the politicians will be trying to score points and give the false impression that everything is okay. Zimbabwe Cricket went through a similar process when other test-playing nations were considering boycotting matches. The South African media has meanwhile kept up the pressure on both the football world governing body (FIFA) and the South African organising committee not to consider Zimbabwe as a viable venue for anything to do with the tournament.

Edmund Chimusoro a South African based football commentator says ‘the Zanu PF fat cats should not be allowed to reap the benefits of hosting anything for the 2010 tournament.’ Speaking from Johannesburg, Chimusoro says the Zimbabwe government is hiding behind its people in making proposals for the hosting but when it comes to reaping rewards it is only them who will benefit. He says no mention has been made so far by the organisers to include Zimbabwe in the logistics for the tournament.