Athletics shines for Zimbabwe at AUSC Region 5 Games

Zimbabwe Ambassador to Namibia Melody Chaurura (left next to games mascot), Zimbabwean athlete Tawananyashe Chimuka and Sport and Recreation Commission chief executive officer Elta Nengomasha at the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Games in Swakopmund

Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub

ZIMBABWE athletics contributed 24 of Zimbabwe’s 66 medals at the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Games which ended in Swakopmund in Namibia on Friday.

The good medal haul augurs well for the sport’s newfound status.

Exploits of Tapiwanashe Makarawu and those of Makanakaishe Charamba, have drawn attention to Zimbabwe now viewed as a rising powerhouse in world athletics.
“These kids have given Zimbabwe a future. They’ve run for their flag, and they’ve run into history,” said National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe vice president Siphathisiwe Machaya.

Zimbabwe’s athletes were up against those from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, three countries with impressive junior development programmes and have athletes who have shown on the world stage in the past.

The athletics team won four gold, 12 silver and eight bronze.

With some of these athletes already drawing interest from international scouts, and many eligible for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, this might just be the generation that puts Zimbabwe back on the global athletics map.