Msigwa clarifies Taekwondo funding dispute
DAR ES SALAAM: GOVERNMENT Spokesperson and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Gerson Msigwa, has firmly denied claims that Tanzania’s representative at the World Taekwondo Championships in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was abandoned by the government and left without the necessary support to compete.
Addressing the matter through his official Instagram account (@gersonmsigwa) on Saturday, Msigwa clarified that the Tanzania Taekwondo Federation (TTF) had made prior arrangements to attend the event, with all expenses travel, accommodation and logistics fully covered by the tournament organisers, World Taekwondo (WT).
“I came across an online post by Tanzania’s representative at the World Taekwondo Championships, currently underway in the UAE, alleging that they were unable to participate due to lack of equipment,” Msigwa said.
He emphasised that this narrative was misleading and lacked context.
“The Federation submitted a letter to the National Sports Council (NSC), requesting permission to participate. In that letter, they clearly stated that the event was fully funded by the organisers, including tickets and other requirements,” he explained.
According to Msigwa, the only request made by the Federation was an official travel clearance and no additional support of financial or logistical was sought from the government.
“It is surprising to see such accusations surfacing online when no formal complaint or request was ever made. We are reaching out to the leadership of the Tanzania Taekwondo Federation to better understand the situation,” he added.
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Msigwa also questioned why the issue was being aired publicly before being raised through proper channels.
“If there is a real problem, why wasn’t it reported through the appropriate bodies? Transparency and proper communication are crucial. We cannot solve problems that are not officially brought to our attention,” he said.
The Government Spokesperson reassured the public of the Ministry’s continued commitment to promoting and supporting sports development across all disciplines.
He, however, urged national sports bodies to maintain professionalism and ensure open dialogue with government institutions.
“Let us resolve matters through the proper forums. If athletes or associations have genuine concerns, they should file them formally. Social media outbursts only lead to confusion and do not help anyone,” he cautioned.
The statement follows a post by the unnamed athlete on social media, claiming they could not compete at the Championships due to a lack of essential gear—a claim now under review by the Ministry.
The World Taekwondo Championships is one of the sport’s premier global events, attracting elite martial artists from across continents.
Tanzania’s participation in such high-caliber events is a source of national pride and an opportunity to elevate local talent onto the world stage.
