Zimbabwe Vice-President Backs Jefferies

Zimbabwe race car driver Axcil Jefferies met with Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Mujuru backs Jefferies

February 18, 2014
Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

VICE President Joice Mujuru has pledged her support to Zimbabwe’s motor racing driver Axcil Jefferies who is in the country in a drive to find sponsorship and promote awareness of the sport. Jefferies and his father Suhail yesterday met Vice President Mujuru at her Munhumutapa offices in Harare accompanied by Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga and principal director Paul Damasane.

Mujuru hailed Suhail’s support for his son and said it’s high time he gets the backing from others in the country as Axcil raises the nation’s flag high.

“He has actually put us on the map and some of us think it’s also our time to really be helping the young man,” said Mujuru.

“I know the trouble that you have gone through in trying to put your own country on the map by trying to help our gifted young man.

“We are quite happy to also talk and appeal to the corporate world of Zimbabwe, including beyond Zimbabwe, to really come to the support of our young guy because we think he has surely done us proud.

“So, I think we have to work very hard and talk to the corporate world so that we get our son, we get our young man to really go and practice and go and really perform and perform to the best.”

Mujuru said there was need to move from the culture of depending on just a few individuals, who were excelling in sport and develop more athletes.

“The other thing I was talking to the deputy minister is that you see, we have our young chaps like him, we just have that one and we fold our hands and we relax,” said Mujuru.

“We should develop more and encourage them not only in racing but in different disciplines.”

Kanengoni-Malinga said they will be hosting Axcil and they will engage various stakeholders throughout the week to try and get support for the athlete.

“We are supporting motorsport. We are supporting Axcil, we are supporting Tanya Muzinda and we are supporting all the kids in motor sport,” Kanengoni-Malinga said.

Axcil’s father, who is also his manager, said they appreciate the support they are getting from the country.

“He has so much to give back to the young children. We see a bigger picture and it’s no longer about Axcil only,” said Suhail.