Story by Tichaona Kurewa
THE death of Zimbabwean boxer Ndodana Ncube has prompted the Zimbabwe Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZBWCB) to accelerate plans to establish a benevolence fund aimed at providing financial and welfare support to fighters during times of hardship.
Ncube’s death last month exposed gaps in welfare and insurance provisions for local boxers, highlighting the need for a structured support system for athletes competing in one of the world’s most physically demanding sports.
The boxer received medical treatment, underwent surgery and was eventually repatriated from South Africa through a benevolence fund operating in that country, a model Zimbabwe’s boxing authorities now hope to replicate.
Zimbabwe Boxing and Wrestling Control Board Chairperson Ms Vee Chibanda said the proposed fund would assist boxers facing illness, injury or death.
“We are working on setting up a Benevolent Fund. This fund will assist us when our boxers are in times of distress, when they are sick, and when they die. It is a form of insurance that we want to establish for all boxers in Zimbabwe.
“With Ndodana Ncube’s death, he became ill in South Africa and was able to receive medical assistance, operations and repatriation back to Zimbabwe because of such a fund. It is a similar model that we are trying to establish,” she said.
The board indicated that the scheme would operate as an insurance mechanism for registered boxers, providing financial assistance and welfare support when needed.
Officials estimate that an initial investment of US$100 000 will be required to establish and sustain the fund.
Boxing South Africa, which runs a similar programme, says the initiative can be made sustainable through contributions from athletes and support from stakeholders within the sport.
Chief Executive Officer of Boxing South Africa, Mr Tsholo Lejeka, said deductions from boxers’ earnings could provide a practical starting point.
“The immediate option that is within everybody’s control is deductions from boxers’ earnings. It allows you to make a start. Boxers themselves must understand the importance of such a fund and be willing to sacrifice a small percentage, whether it is one or two percent, because we all have to start somewhere,” he said.
Zimbabwean boxers have welcomed the proposed welfare scheme, saying it would provide a critical safety net for athletes dealing with injuries, illness and life after retirement.
The planned benevolence fund is expected to strengthen athlete welfare and provide long-term protection for boxers, ensuring greater support both inside and outside the ring.
