Story by Anashe Murombedzi
THE Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) has unveiled a new strategic plan to guide the country’s sports development over the next decade, placing athlete growth and welfare at the heart of its agenda.
Building on the gains of the 2021-2025 strategic plan, the roadmap is centred on nurturing world-class athletes through enhanced facilities, quality coaching, nutrition, and medical care.
ZOC President, Thabani Gonye, said the long-term plan recognises that achieving competitiveness on the global stage is a gradual process.
“We know that developing athletes to be competitive at the highest level takes time, typically between five to eight years. We will conduct a mid-term review and bi-annual progress checks to ensure that we remain on track with our key performance indicators,” he explained.
Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Honourable Emily Jesaya, underscored the importance of unity across the sporting sector.
“It’s crucial that all sporting boards work together towards a common objective. By converging our efforts, we can ensure that our athletes receive the support they need to succeed at the highest level,” she said.
The new plan sets its sights on preparing athletes for success at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, while also laying a foundation for long-term growth leading up to 2033.
The effectiveness of Zimbabwe’s athlete development cycle was already evident at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba reached the finals, signalling a promising future for local sports.
