Public servants get two hours off every Friday afternoon to go for sports. Unlike other weekdays when work ends at 5pm, on Friday work stops at 3PM to enable civil servants go for sports.

While many believe the Friday Sports initiative is good, some claim that Friday afternoons have been turned into starting the weekend early in the speak of party animals. By 3pm on Fridays, entertainment spots are filled with patrons who left office to ‘do sports.’

In light of these concerns, is the 2 hours of sports on Friday still necessary? Does government actually have the luxury to give away two full hours every week?

Jane Kanzayire, a business proprietor, argues that it’s a few public servants who actually efficiently use the hours given to them by the government for sports.

"Instead of actually doing sports some people opt to run personal errands which kills the essence of the hours off. They just lock their offices and go for their personal programmes leaving people in need of their services stranded,” she says.

But Jessica Intsinzi, a fitness trainer disagrees. She says that her gym always has large numbers of customers on Fridays, an indication that people could actually be taking the sports initiative seriously.

"I mostly get people on Mondays and Fridays, generally because on Monday people are coming from the weekend and Friday, because they are starting the weekend. From Tuesday to Thursday I get some people but they are always few in number,” Intsinzi says.

However, Comfort Mbabazi, the Director General Public Service Management and Development at the Ministry of Public Service and Labour, explains that the government set the two hours per week for sports because it wants a healthy nation.

She says that sports is every Friday from 3pm to 5pm and that no public servant is supposed to leave office before that time to go for sports and that if there is anybody who closes the door before 3pm that wouldn’t be right.

In regards to getting other options for promotion of sports other than cutting working work hours, Mbabazi says that this matter should be viewed in terms of cost benefits because all stakeholders gain in leading healthy lives and that the sacrifice of two hours a week is worth it.

She says that efficiency in work is derived from being self-driven and that a few hours off work wouldn’t affect productivity in civil service.

"People sit very many hours in offices, taking two hours off can’t be affecting their productivity, especially if the workers are self-driven. Some people actually use the weekend to finish up pending work with the aim of beating deadlines, so it’s mostly about one’s aim to attain their goals,” she says.

John Dushime, the village leader at Muhima, echoes a similar view. He says that though they value the essence of sports, they also value their work and that before they leave office on Friday afternoon; they ensure that every one is attended to.

He adds that the initiative comes with various benefits.

"The ‘Friday sports’ has helped us a lot in ways such as associating with the people we lead. But this doesn’t prevent us from fulfilling our duties; because even though we all have to go for sports, we first attend to the people we serve,” he points out.

Dushime believes that the policy will help the country achieve the Vision 2020 because citizens are increasing their efficiency but at the same time, maintaining healthy lives.

People have other options

Kanzayire says that civil servants have other options and thus Friday should be reinstated as a normal working day. He cites the weekends and the monthly car free day as an example.

However, RemmyLubega, the manager of RG-Consult Inc, the two hours given on Friday are realistic.

He says that though not all go for sports as required, what they do is still in some way helpful in regards to giving their minds and bodies a break.

"In reference to public servants having this time off their desks, it is helpful, and even though some people don’t spend all these hours in sports, they will definitely have time to shop, network, socialise and all,” he says.

He points out that such acts could have some effect but it could only be a pinch, for instance closure of businesses during Umuganda (community work) can have some effect but the benefits out of such are worthwhile.

"Dubai closes shops on Friday but they still are leading in business so I don’t think a few hours of closure can have such a big impact,” he adds.

Shyaka Nyarwaya, Director of Public Relations and Business Development of PAN African Logistics, agrees with Lubega’s opinion, saying that the hours given to workers towards the end of the week for sports are relevant, especially when it comes to the productivity of the organisations.

"We do sports every Friday as requested by the government and this is helpful because we all need to relax, which gives us more energy to operate,” Nyarwaya says.

He, in fact, applauds the system, saying that it has helped them in their marketing, especially the car free zone where they meet with people who are in need of their services who eventually become their customers.

"It has helped us in promoting unity, stability, flexibility and commitment among the workers but most importantly, it has promoted good health,” Nyarwaya adds.

Based on how dynamic the director sees this initiative, he thinks that those who don’t do as requested should be dealt with in some way or better still, find ways to make them be a part of it.

"We are aware of the habit of workers dodging the programme, but in our organisation, we have introduced inter companies’ competitions. If one can’t play he can at least support his team. And we are soon introducing different teams where everyone will join any club of their choice. And I believe this will definitely work,” Nyarwaya says.

John Bugabo, a public servant, appreciates the initiative too, saying that the hours dedicated to sports are clearly relevant because the policy does not stop work from being done but instead, helps workers to be healthier and work with more energy.

"I go for sports every Friday whenever I don’t have pending work to do. Sitting from Monday to Friday for eight hours every day isn’t healthy, that’s why this sports policy is a good and relevant idea when it comes to productivity development,” Bugabo says. 

Are the hours set aside for sports on Friday still relevant?

Lucky Nzeyimana, TV Personality

I don’t think it is still relevant because some people don’t do what these hours are intended for.

Some rarely go for sports; it’s more of socialising for them and not the sports as intended.

I think people would rather go for sports after 5pm which is after work instead of killing those hours.

Ronald Gakuba, student

They are still relevant only that people rarely achieve what they ought to.

Sports helps in reducing stress, refreshes the mind and keeps the body strong, so instead of people hitting bars instead of fitness centres, they should make use of these hours because they are important and that’s why the government set this in motion in the first place.

Jessica Kayitesi, teacher

They are relevant because this time was given to workers to be able to relax; help in boosting their health through sports, this is still important and those hours off are still relevant.

 Olivier Niyosenga, cobbler

This time set apart for sports is relevant and will forever be because it helps so much in unwinding the stress one holds the entire week, not forgetting it favours people’s health.

I think private institutions should also introduce this system because in the end, everyone benefits from this.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw