EVENTS like the 15th Cana Zone IV Swimming and Waterpolo Championships which started in Bulawayo on Thursday have the potential of giving birth to future stars, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has said.

VP Mphoko was speaking during the official opening of the championships at the Bulawayo pools on Thursday afternoon.

“It is my conviction that the waters in Bulawayo will do us a favour by breeding another Kirsty Coventry for this nation and this great continent. With that in mind, the government of Zimbabwe has taken great strides in the realization of such a noble goal by setting up structures such as sports academy to further high and podium performances by our athletes. It is also our government’s view that sport will not prosper in isolation but through cooperate engagements and interactions for the furtherance of the cause of the industry,” said VP Mphoko.

Even encouraging, said Vice President Mphoko, was the realization that the swimming facility which was renovated for purposes of the 2014 African Union Sports Council Region Five Games and now lies as a legacy to the people of Bulawayo will be the focal point for the event.

Besides the hosts, countries taking part in the regional meet include Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania.

Kenya and Tanzania are not part of Cana Zone IV, but are participating as guest countries.

Zimbabwe and South Africa are the only countries featuring in the water polo competition.

Zimbabwe came third at the Cana Zone IV meet held in Mauritius last year.