Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
HARARE-ZIMBABWE is set to host the 2025 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Southern Region Senior Championships from July 26 to 27, at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare.
The high-profile event will bring together elite athletes from across the region, with nine countries already confirming their participation. Among them are Zambia, Malawi, Seychelles, Lesotho, Angola, Mozambique, Mauritius, Eswatini and host Zimbabwe.
“Zimbabwe is ready. As SADC Chair and host, we are proud to open our doors to the region. Every detail from logistics to competition is being finalised. The nation stands behind our athletes, and we look forward to hosting a successful and inspiring championship,” NAAZ president, Tendai Tagara said.
The championship, which runs under the theme “One Track. One Region. One Dream,” serves as a key platform for athletes to qualify for international competitions, including the upcoming World Senior Championships scheduled for Tokyo in September.
“Zimbabwe is ready. As SADC Chair and host, we are proud to open our doors to the region. Every detail, from logistics to competition, is being finalised. The nation stands behind our athletes, and we look forward to hosting a successful and inspiring championship,” said National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) president, Mr Tendai Tagara.
“We are currently preparing for the Southern Region SADC track and field championships set for Harare from the 25th to the 27th of July. Team Zimbabwe has a large contingent and we are expecting stiff competition from our neighbours, especially Botswana, Zambia, and Malawi. Our athletes are spread across the country, training with their individual clubs and coaches. They will assemble in camp a few days before the competition to gel for relays and final preparations. As a nation, we are aiming for a strong performance, more gold medals than our competitors, and improved times for World Championships qualification. We expect national and personal records to be set,” said Zimbabwe Senior Athletics Head Coach, Mr Phakamile Lisimathi.
With a growing reputation as a competitive athletics nation, Zimbabwe is eager to showcase not only its sporting prowess but also its organisational capacity as it plays host to athletes, officials, and fans from across the region.
The Southern Region Senior Championships, held biennially, remain a cornerstone of athletics development in the SADC region, offering critical exposure and a stepping stone to the global stage.
All eyes now turn to the University of Zimbabwe, where regional dreams will be chased, and new champions will be crowned.
