Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged the current crop of sporting administrators to create “the requisite environment and structures” to enable athletes to adapt to the fast-evolving global sports industry.
Addressing stakeholders at the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Munhumutapa Challenge Cup launch, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s sporting leadership must respond to the demands of a rapidly evolving global industry.
“As the current crop of leaders in the sporting sector, you all have a duty to provide the requisite environment and structures so that our athletes appropriately adapt to the ever-changing sporting industry landscape,” he said.
The President described the launch as a defining moment in the country’s football development, hailing the initiative as an innovative framework set to reshape the domestic game over the next five years.
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup carries an annual commitment of US$5 million, culminating in a US$25 million investment over five years. It brings together senior men’s and women’s football, junior development leagues, five-a-side and beach soccer under one integrated and professionally governed system.
“This Challenge Cup… is set to transition national soccer from fragmented competitions to a more cohesive and integrated football ecosystem,” he said.
President Mnangagwa commended ZIFA and stakeholders for their “foresight and institutional dexterity” in unveiling the structure at a time when global sport is undergoing rapid change.
He said the name Munhumutapa evokes strength, authority and civilisation, symbolically linking Zimbabwe’s rich heritage with its future through sport.
The launch comes amid heightened visibility of Zimbabwean national teams on the international stage. The President congratulated the national cricket team for its spirited performance at the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and applauded the Mighty Warriors for their showing at the COSAFA Women’s Tournament.
“They were indeed a worthy representation of our collective national trait of determination, resilience and pride in who we are as Zimbabweans,” he said.
He urged that the new competition framework prioritise youth development, women’s empowerment and wealth creation, stressing that no province or talent should be left behind.
The proposed Under-14 and Under-16 national leagues are expected to generate hundreds of matches annually, creating a merit-based pathway from school to district, provincial and national teams.
President Mnangagwa also welcomed collaboration between the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and ZIFA, saying it aligns with Government’s Whole-of-Society Approach by embedding football within the education system.
Government has further embraced partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to use football as a platform for health awareness, inclusivity, gender equality and resilience, in line with Vision 2030.
The President underscored the need for strict compliance with ZIFA statutes and continental and international standards, urging transparency and accountability in the administration of sponsorship funds.
“Guarantees with regards accountability, transparency and fairness are critically important, while integrity safeguards have to be enforced and credibility sustained,” he said.
Beyond the pitch, he said the tournament must generate spill-over benefits in match-day employment, logistics, media value chains and tourism, while unlocking opportunities for districts and communities historically excluded from high-income sporting ecosystems.
Calling on local authorities, business and communities to invest in modern sporting infrastructure and academies, the President declared the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup a nation-building instrument.
