Chienderamwano wins Mr Ironman title

Midlands Correspondent
BOTSWANA based Champion Chienderamwano claimed this year’s edition of Mr Ironman Zimbabwe after shrugging off stiff competition from 12 other hulks who participated in a fitness and bodybuilding contest held in Kadoma on Saturday night.

An uncontested Regina Jonga walked away with the Miss Iron woman crown which carried $600 prize money.

Chienderamwano who won the Botswana leg of Mr Ironman two weeks ago, dislodged Gweru-based Isaac “Sugar” Chimuchenga who was the reigning Mr Ironman Zimbabwe going into the contest. Chimuchenga could only manage to settle for third place.

Blessing Samaringa of Harare was the first runner up.

For his efforts, the Botswana based fitness trainer walked away with $1,000 and a trophy while Samaringa took home $600.

Sugar who had earlier indicated that he would not take part at the championships due to ill health, won $300 for his efforts.

Speaking soon after the crowning moment, Chienderamwano said he was confident of winning.

“I knew that the title was for me to lose as I had prepared well prior to tonight’s event. There wasn’t much of a challenge tonight as I had beaten some of the contestants at the Mr Ironman Botswana,” said Chienderamwano in apparent reference to Chimuchenga whom he beat in the Botswana leg of the same competition.

However, Sugar felt he had been robbed of the title and accused the judges of looking at someone’s stature and not the bodybuilding components.

“All the guys who won are big which means those with small bodies never had a chance. We can’t develop bodybuilding if people concentrate on someone’s size and not the bodybuilding components. This will discourage youngsters who want to take up the sport,” he said.

In other divisions, Goodwin Mhaka won the Mr Fitness Figure while Bulawayo based, Precious Mujuru won the Miss Female Figure.

Raymond Mutandiri walked away with the Junior Ironman crown while Mario Mwale was the inaugural Disabled Ironman winner.

National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness spokesperson, Quiet Shingai described the championships as a success and said the federation was now gearing for the Mr Zimbabwe championships slated for October 17 in Harare.

He said: “As a Federation we’re happy with the level of competition which was exhibited and also the turnout which shows that the sport is growing. There was no bodybuilding to talk about in the past few years due to various challenges but things are improving. We hope for a bigger and better event next month when we host the Mr Zimbabwe championships.”

Full list of winners:

Mr Ironman — Champion Chienderamwano

First runner up — Blessing Samaringa

Second runner up – Isaac Chimuchenga

Miss Ironwoman — Regina Jonga

Mr Fitness Figure – Goodwin Mhaka,

First runner up – Brian Saurombe

Second runner up – Givemore Kamuronjo

Miss Fitness Figure – Precious Mujuru

First runner up – Shantel Bhachi

Second runner up – Mitchelle Matsifo

Mr Junior Ironman – Raymond Mutandiri