AS part of Heroes Day commemorations, a vibrant skateboarding tournament was held this Monday in Victoria Falls to promote unity, celebrate youth potential, and encourage the growing uptake of the sport.

In line with the government’s commitment to inclusive development, the Victoria Falls Skate Club, in collaboration with Love for Africa, is using skateboarding to raise awareness against drug and substance abuse, while empowering young people in the Wetland City.

The initiative attracted over 100 young skateboarding enthusiasts who have embraced the sport with passion and ambition.

“We’re learning skills here. Beyond the game, we’re also learning discipline and responsibility. This will help us become better citizens.”

Organisers and sponsors of the tournament expressed optimism about the future of skateboarding in Matabeleland North and beyond.

“Since it’s Heroes Day, we decided to keep the youth engaged through this tournament. We’re promoting peace and unity while keeping them occupied in meaningful ways that steer them away from drugs and substance abuse,” said Victoria Falls Skate Club president, Albert Mazuru.

“We’re always eager to give back to the community we live in. This tournament is part of our commitment to fighting drug and substance abuse by keeping youth positively engaged. But it doesn’t end here, we are also nurturing future champions who can represent Zimbabwe,” noted tournament sponsor, Blessing Munyenyiwa.

This Heroes Day skateboarding tournament aligns with the National Development Strategy One (NDS1), which seeks to increase participation in sports and recreational activities from 15% in 2020 to 27% by 2025.

Although skateboarding is now recognised as an Olympic sport, its development locally has been hindered by the absence of a formal federation to oversee its progress.