adminAugustine Hwata Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S Big Brother Africa contestant Munyaradzi Mandaza is one of the entries for the men’s fitness competition that will run as a sideshow to the Mr and Ms Zimbabwe bodybuilding contest set for next week at the Harare International School.
The Mr Zimbabwe bodybuilding event is making a comeback after five years off the radar and has included fitness and physique.
National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness president, Otis Goredema, said Mandaza, also known as Hakeem, is one of the top attractions at this year competition on November 2.
Mandaza was one of housemates from Zimbabwe in The Chase alongside Pokello Nare.
Goredema said he was hopeful that the revived competition will be able to reclaim its place as the most prestigious bodybuilding and fitness contest in Zimbabwe, eclipsing the Iron Man and the Muslemania.
“We have brought back the Mr and Ms Zimbabwe and this time we are incorporating figure modeling, fitness and bikini and bodybuilding for the women.
“The event had been off because of challenges in economy and administration but now we are back.
“I guess we have the largest number of female athletes as we have almost 20 entries, including Merna Moore-Creamer, who came third at the world championship in Austria.
“There is also Helen Costa Sinclair, Barbra Jambwa, Regina Jonga, the reigning Ms Novice champion, and Beauty Gandiwa.
“For the men, we have the junior categories, the lightweight, the middleweight, the light-heavy and the heavyweight.
“I am hoping that Tarirayi Chirume will be there to defend his title while Victor Hungwe has been training hard and should be competing,” said Goredema.
Unheralded Matt Humphries has entered for the show while Champion Chimwamuchere is coming from Botswana to challenge for the title.
But it is in the men’s fitness and physique section where Hakeem will come under the spotlight.
“Munyaradzi Mandaza is entering for the fitness competition and last year he won at the Mr Novice but we have a competitive field this time with the likes of Anton Milner and Anthony Smith,” said Goredema.
Pre-judging for the event will be held in the morning at the venue where a zumba and cross-fit expo will be held.
“The zumba dance is popular but the cross-fit is a new type of fitness which combines fitness and weightlifting routines through a limited amount of time,” said Goredema.
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