Sports has been recognized as a powerful tool that can promote peace, conflict resolution and social cohesion. It cannot only deal with the physical appearance but with the mind also. By engaging in sports, individuals from different backgrounds can develop sense of fellowship and mutual respect, bridging divides and fostering a more inclusive society. The fact that sports can be played by both genders gives a room for sports to be used as a harnessing tool for peace building. Women can fully participate in sport without any hindrance. Sports extend from being used as a tool for bridging divides to serve as a catalyst for empowering women
and advancing gender equality which makes it easy to build peace in our communities.
The United Nations have recognized the potential of sports as a tool for development, peacebuilding and women empowerment. By harnessing the power of play, sport surely contributes to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as promoting gender equality and social cohesion not only in Zimbabwe but at a global scale. In Zimbabwe, women have faced numerous challenges including gender-based violence and limited access to education, opportunities and underrepresentation in decision making. Hence with this, sport can serve as a powerful tool to address these issues and empower women in the country.
Grace Chirumanzu, a prominent woman in sport once stated that, “sport can provide a platform for sisterhood support.” This is to say, as women come together to play different game or participate in different sporting activities, they can be able to share what
affects them and hence creating oneness and strong coexistence among them.
Sports can work as therapy for women since sports are goal oriented. Their focus may shift from the problems affecting them, giving them platform to change the situation at hand. Also, it can bring about problem solving skills peacefully without any violence. 4-H Zimbabwe organization, a youth development organization has been actively using sport as a tool to promote peace and tolerance among individuals from different political and social backgrounds. 4-H Zimbabwe ensures that women are also taking a lead in championing peace and inclusivity in the country through sporting activities. In one of their publications in 2022, “’ Women in sport and peace building”, they state that “as men play soccer, women play netball against one another in our pursuit to promote social cohesion and peaceful communities.” When this happens where women and men are given similar opportunities, peace would prevail in the country.
Equal opportunities are not only for leadership position but even in sports, it can work. When women and men are given similar opportunities, peace would prevail in the country and in the world. The power of sport in promoting peace, conflict resolution and women’s empowerment is undeniable. To harness this, collective actions are required from different government entities, stakeholders and the civil society. By harnessing the power of sport, we can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals, promote peace and social cohesion. It is upon each one of us as women, policy makers to take decisive action and leverage the universal appeal of sport to create a more just, just, equitable and peaceful world. The journey towards a more peaceful and equitable world is ongoing, the power of sport alone is a unifying force which should not be underestimated. Everyone is supposed to embrace the values of sportsmanship, to challenge gender norms and prepare women to be agents of change in their communities.
Let us continue to leverage the transformative [power of sports, breakdown barriers and empower women, promote social cohesion on a global scale. As individuals in our corners, we can create a world where sport is not seen as a source of entertainment but a catalyst for positive change and lasting peace.