Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo, Harare Bureau
SPORTING disciplines such as football have the power to unite people from different backgrounds, fostering cohesion and a deep sense of belonging among communities, supporters and players, President Mnangagwa has said.
In his address at the launch of the Zifa Munhumutapa Cup in Harare yesterday, the President said football serves as a universal language, capable of transcending cultural, religious, political and generational boundaries while nurturing shared passion and community spirit.
“Being a football supporter myself, musandibvundze team yandinotsigira, I know the power of football in uniting diverse peoples, promoting cohesion and a sense of belonging for communities, fans and players alike. It is with this context that I am very pleased to officiate at this historic launch of the Zimbabwe Football Association Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
“This is a defining moment in the history of our country’s football development.
“The initiative represents an innovative and ground-breaking structure that is set to alter the architecture of our country’s soccer arena over the next five years,” he said.
The Munhumutapa Cup carries an annual commitment of US$5 million, amounting to a US$25 million investment over five years.
This, President Mnangagwa said, will transform national football from fragmented competitions into a more cohesive and integrated ecosystem.
He reiterated that under his administration, no one and no place would be left behind as Zimbabwe works towards attaining upper-middle-income status.
“It is praiseworthy that the framework brings together senior men’s football, senior women’s football, junior development structures, the five-a-side version of soccer as well as beach soccer under one accountable and professionally governed system.
“I congratulate Zifa for this all-inclusive approach, which will go a long way to ensure that athletes in football realise their full potential.
“I urge you all to maintain the thrust where development, empowerment and wealth creation opportunities for the youth and women are at the heart of this initiative,” said the President.
He commended the collaboration between the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Zifa and other stakeholders, saying this aligned with Government’s Whole of Society Approach.
“. . . and will ensure that football is entrenched within our education ecosystem,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said Government welcomed the partnership with the United Nations Population Fund, which will position football as a platform for health awareness, inclusivity, gender equality and resilience.
“Under this model, football as an instrument for unity, social protection, discipline, and national productivity, is enhanced, in line with our national aspirations outlined in Vision 2030,” said the President.
“Likewise, the importance of integrating women’s football within this national progressive framework cannot be overemphasised.
“I applaud stakeholders in the football fraternity for structurally and competitively prioritising the development and growth of women’s soccer.
“The equal recognition of women’s soccer within the competition calendar and defined pathways ensures that our girls, both across rural and urban areas, have access to equal opportunities, to explore their God-given talents.”
On the inclusion of multiple soccer categories, President Mnangagwa said this would expand the national talent pool and encourage broader community participation.
He added that the multi-format approach reflected a modern football economy equipped to compete across various platforms.
“Essential aspects of governance must remain central to this initiative. I, therefore, urge all stakeholders to make sure that the programme operates in strict compliance with the Zifa statutes, as well as continental and international standards.
“Further, the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup sponsorship in particular, should be professionally administered.
Guarantees with regards accountability, transparency and fairness are critically important, while integrity safeguards have to be enforced and credibility sustained,” said the President.
President Mnangagwa also urged sports leaders to create an enabling environment that supports athletes’ adaptation to the rapidly evolving global sports landscape.
“To this end, the Zifa Munhumutapa Challenge Cup should result in spill over benefits beyond sharpening skills for players and extend to match-day employment, logistics enterprises, media value chains and tourism opportunities.
“Additional benefits must also accrue to districts, provinces and communities historically, which were excluded from such high-income sporting ecosystems. Government institutions, the private sector, traditional leadership, schools, higher and tertiary education institutions, professionals and communities across every province, are invited to support, participate and own this programme,” he said.
The President called on local authorities and businesses to contribute by investing in modern sporting infrastructure and academies.
“Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, ino namatirwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhulekeIwe ngabanikazi balo. The success of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup depends on our collective stewardship.
“Hence, on the onset, let this tournament become one of our country’s nation building instruments, connecting villages to cities, bridging provinces and igniting the dreams of our young talented boys and girls. I wish this Munhumutapa Challenge Cup initiative great success, towards creating a lasting legacy for both the present and future generations of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also applauded the national cricket and women’s football teams for recent achievements in the ICC Men’s T-20 World Cup and the Women’s Cosafa Tournament.
“On behalf of Government and the nation as a whole, I formally congratulate our national Cricket team, the Chevrons for their spirited play at the ongoing ICC Men’s T-20 World Cup. I equally commend the Mighty Warriors for their performance during the Women’s Cosafa Tournament.
“They were indeed a worthy representation of our collective national trait of determination, resilience and pride in who we are as Zimbabweans. May the performance of the Chevrons and Mighty Warriors be a source of inspiration to our many young people and an assurance that, they too, can showcase their God given talents on the world stage. Makorokoto, amhlophe,” said the President.
He said the name Munhumutapa evokes strength, authority and civilisation, reminding the nation that progress must be grounded in Zimbabwe’s cultural identity and heritage.
“To this end, the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup symbolically connects our rich history to our brighter future, leveraging on sport. This competition framework is an essential building block towards a football sector that is integrated into the broader national transformation and socio-economic development agenda. It also embodies a generational resolve to scale up inclusivity and maximum benefits to all actors within the football fraternity and sporting in general,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said it was encouraging that the proposed Under-14 and Under-16 National Leagues will generate hundreds of matches annually.
“This will in-turn create a measurable and merit-based pathway from school to community, district, province and ultimately the national teams. Well done,” said President Mnangagwa.
The launch was attended by various stakeholders across the sports sector.
Peter Tanyanyiwa