A new youth recreational project has been launched in Harare, dubbed Skate Zimbabwe. The initiative is brainchild of four skaters Mukudzei Nyamhamba, Wayne Klinkenberg, Nigel Junior Peters, Lesley Cash and Plot Mhako.
It is aimed at promoting the sport and art of skating amongst the youths in the country as a form of recreation and way of addressing social ills such as substance abuse and deviant juvenile behaviour by keeping them busy through the adrenalin sport.
“Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, a entertainment industry job, and a method of transportation,” said one of the skaters, Plot Mhako.
It has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years creating a multi-million dollar sporting, entertainment and merchandise industry.
In Zimbabwe skating is not very popular with isolated activity in some neighbourhoods in Harare and Bulawayo.
He added: “Last Saturday Skate Zimbabwe held its first event at Longchen Plaza during the Nhaka Youpenyu Concert where they showcased various skills, trained school children and some youths. The response was overwhelming and more activities will be conducted in various communities in Harare before scaling up to other provinces.”
Working in partnership with Jibilika Trust the initiative will hold joint activities with the organisation including at the 11th Jibilika Festival in October.
The ultimate goal for the project is to build Zimbabwe’s first ever Skate Park in two years time.
