Online Reporter
IT is a big sporting night for Zimbabwe and the Southern African zone.
The Harare International Conference (HICC) will be the site of what promises to be a glittering ceremony where all the region’s eyes will be fixated on Zimbabwe.
The grand occasion is the staging of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5’s Regional Annual Sporting Awards (RASA).
AUSC came about from the meeting of Heads of State in Sirte, Libya in 2007 where it was resolved to revitalise sport by harmonising it into the African Union structures.
On July 26, 2013, the Supreme Council of Sport for Africa (SCSA) was dissolved and its functions were harmonise into the African Union under the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) whose headquarters is in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Under the AU, Africa was divided into five regions with AUSC Region 5 comprising of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The main thrust for the AUSC is to stimulate heightened development of sport and socio-economic transformation of Africa through sport.
It is to serve as a catalyst for economic transformation by directly adding value to Africa’s blueprint — Agenda 2063; The Africa we want!
Thus we strongly believe that beyond just the glitz and glamour that comes with such an event which are like the Oscars in the showbizz industry or the famed Ballon d’or for football, the hosting of the inaugural hosting of the awards gala by Zimbabwe today is a valuable stepping stone in national brand positioning.
It goes beyond event management and the pageantry of an awards ceremony that has become a key part of the regional sporting calendar.
Today, Zimbabwe stands tall on the regional stage. It is a moment that transcends sport to reflect national ambition, capability, and pride.
More than a glamorous awards ceremony, RASA 2025 is a powerful affirmation of Zimbabwe’s place in Southern Africa’s sporting landscape.
We believe that by hosting this prestigious event, Zimbabwe is also signalling its readiness to lead — not only in organising top-tier events, but in shaping the future of regional sport.
The economic ripple effects are immediate and welcome.
Tourism establishments and operations are energised by the influx of athletes, officials, and media that have descended on Harare for this big spectacle.
Domestic tourism is also a winner as participants move across the country to take part in the events around RASA.
As we reported in previous editions of this publication and elsewhere in today’s edition, the fact that the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture is driving the Local Organising Committee (LOC) underscores the Zimbabwe Government’s commitment to the growth of sport not just in the country but in the region.
Just like Government has demonstrated the country’s leadership qualities through President Mnangagwa’s tenure as the SADC chairman, it has also underlined its capacity to take a leading role in steering the development of sport in the region and Africa at large.
It is also a welcome development to note that Zimbabwe’s outstanding sportsmen and women have found their names on the long list of nominees for the RASA awards.
All of the country’s athletes and technical officials who have been nominated have merited their selection and these include top United States-based sprinter Tapiwanashe Makarawu, Women’s cricket ace Kelis Ndhlovu and Zimbabwe senior men’s rugby coach Piet Benade.
Makawaru reached the final of the 200m event at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Ndhlovu starred for Zimbabwe at the African Games in Ghana were the Lady Chevrons won gold.
Benade guided his Sables to the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup title.
We believe that while the athletes and the officials have done their part to put Zimbabwe on the map, RASA 2025 on its part is a shot in the arm for the tourism sector, putting Zimbabwe’s rich heritage, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality on full display.
Coming as it does in the period when we are also commemorating the Culture Month, RASA adds to the total experience of the rich cultural diversity that Zimbabwe has to offer.
Yet, the value of RASA runs deeper.
It is a vehicle giving Zimbabwe the platform to tell its story — a story of resilience, talent, and a deep love for sport.
As we honour the region’s finest athletes, we also inspire a generation. For Zimbabwean youth, seeing regional heroes celebrated on home soil is a vivid reminder that excellence is within reach.
All sporting associations, even those whose athletes, coaches or administrators were not nominated, have an opportunity to learn from the region’s best.
Moreover, RASA fosters regional unity, strengthening bonds among our Southern African neighbours through the universal language of sport.
This is a defining moment — one that celebrates our athletes, boosts our economy, ignites national pride, and tells a Zimbabwean story through sport.
Let RASA 2025 be remembered not just for the trophies and cheques that be handed out to the winners tonight, but for the message it sent: Zimbabwe is indeed open for sporting business.
Beyond RASA, Zimbabwe should be spurred on to build more modern sporting infrastructure so that country can also host more regional and continental sporting competitions.
We have the capacity, we have the pedigree and tonight is the first major step towards showcasing the sporting brand that Zimbabwe is.
We also take the opportunity to wish the nominees the best and May the Best Men and Women prevail tonight.
Let RASA also be another testimony of sport’s power to unite and foster development in the Region and beyond.
