Gonye seeks second term as ZOC boss

Ellina Mhlanga

Zimpapers Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE Olympic Committee president Thabani Gonye says he is looking at continuity as he seeks re-election for a second term in office.

The elections are scheduled for April 27.

The ZOC Nominations and Elections Committee published the eligible candidates and voters’ roll on Monday.

Posts to be contested include the presidency, two vice presidents, treasurer, seven board members and five legal practitioners for the ZOC Disciplinary Committee.

Gonye assumed office in 2021.

“When I look at my presidency, my first term, my four years, there has been progression.

“There are things that we can all look up to and say, is there change in terms of where we are going?

“Certainly, I believe that is the answer, that we are going somewhere,” said Gonye.

As he seeks a second four-year term in office, some of the areas he is looking at include Zimbabwe’s performance at the next edition of the Olympics, Los Angeles 2028.

“Some of the critical things that I will be looking at would be on around improving the performance of our Olympic participation, where certainly the goal in LA is to is to ensure that we actually win medals in there.

“We also would be looking at improving in terms of our development pathway, where we start using sports science. We start looking at digital transformation.

“We start looking at artificial intelligence in terms of our sport development pathway to anchor our long-term development performances, so that we can be connecting with our athletes more and delivering what our athletes expect us to deliver.

“There will be more focus in terms of looking at our teams in our niche, in terms of the events and the areas that we are strong in.”

He is also looking at collaboration and partnerships and governance issues.

“I would be looking at ensuring that our governance for all our members is strengthened, making sure that the instruments, policies, financial controls are very, very strong in terms of our capacities for all members.

“And then also looking at re-focusing on sport as a business or resource generation.

“And then again, we are speaking about looking at our marketing and our AI technological tools and commercial structures that we need to put in place,” said Gonye.

Some of the highlights for his term as president include improvement in terms of the number of athletes that qualified for the 2024 Olympics.

Out of seven athletes that represented Zimbabwe in Paris, four of them met the qualifying standards.

And two of them, sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba reached the 200m men’s finals.

Isaac Mpofu got a top-20 finish in marathon.

The idea would be continuity, building on the foundation laid during his first term.

“I think when I took office, I think at the time I spoke to the members, the reality of where Zimbabwe was in our participation in the 2020 Olympics.

“We were probably at our lowest level that we have ever been in terms of the Olympic participation and the achievement thereof.

“The signs are very clear in terms of our achievement.

“If we are to measure by our participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where we had two finalists in the men’s 200m in the name of Tapiwa and also Makanakaishe.

“When we look at that, and then we also look at our finish in the marathon event, three athletes that is a significant marking to those Olympic Games.

“We also look at the team number of team members, we had targeted to qualify 10. We got seven that actually made the Olympic Games, which is about 70 percent.

“So, when we look at in terms of our strategy that basically brought up this, was under the athletes development and support”.

At the Tokyo 2020 Games, Zimbabwe had five athletes with three of them receiving universality slots.

Gonye, has been involved in the ZOC leadership since 2005, rising through the rankings from being treasurer for two terms to being elected one of the two vice presidents in 2013 before he became president in 2021.

Unlike in 2021 when he was unopposed, Gonye is up against Ringisai Mapondera, who is ZOC board member.

Eligible and Approved Executive Board Candidates

President

Thabani Gonye, Ringisai Kudzanai Hillario Mapondera.

Vice President

Xolisani Gwesela, Merit Thokozile Munzwembiri, Fredreck Ndlovu, Vengayi Cleophas Nyangoni, Joe Kudzayi Rugwete, Godfrey Tichakunda Sunguro, Tendayi Tagara.

Treasurer

Mxolisi Ndlovu

Board Member

Charmaine Yemurai Chamboko, Abel Chimukoko, Letitia Chipandu, Edson Chirowodza, Tinashe Duri, Xolisani Gwesela, Abigail Mnikwa, Merit Thokozile Munzwembiri, Lizzie Mupure, Joe Kudzayi Rugwete, Tawanda Sithole, Tendayi Tagara, Fungai Happiness Zinatsa, Chipo Zumburani.

Eligible and Approved Disciplinary Committee Candidates

Zvidzai Herbert Chinyani, Blessing Ngwenya, Kelvin Simbarashe Sabao, Nyashadzashe Ruth Sai, Patony Porepore Musendo, Taona Sibanda.