Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S golden relay team were fittingly feted like kings with Government leading the way in honouring them as they returned home yesterday from a triumphant African Athletics Senior Championships sojourn in Accra, Ghana.
Straight from touching down at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport where Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture deputy minister Emily Jesaya was on hand to receive them around lunch-time, it was a busy second half of the day for Team Zimbabwe.
Hours later the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Anselem Sanyatwe hosted a welcome dinner for them, where Government also handed some financial rewards for the medal winners and for every member of the team.
Zimbabwe fielded 12 athletes at the African Senior Athletics Championships and returned home with four medals — one gold, two silver and bronze.
The gold medal came from the World Athlteics Championships-b0und, men’s 4x400m relay team made up of Gerren Muwishi, Thandazani Ndhlovu, Leeford Zuze and Dennis Hove.
“Tonight, we gather not only to celebrate medals and records but to honour discipline, sacrifice, patriotism and excellence displayed by our athletes while proudly representing the Republic of Zimbabwe on the continental and global stage.
“Allow me, on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe and indeed, on my own behalf, to congratulate the entire athletics team for the outstanding achievements recorded during the 2026 international athletics season.
“Your performances have brought immense pride and joy to the nation and have once again demonstrated that Zimbabwe possesses immense sporting talent capable of competing with the very best in the world,” said Sanyatwe.
Zimbabwe’s last gold medal in the men’s 4x400m relay was back in 2004, when the quartet of Talkmore Nyongani, Lloyd Zvasiya, Lewis Banda and Temba Ncube won the event at the African Championships in Brazzaville, Congo.
Two decades later, the team of Muwishi, Hove, Ndhlovu and Zuze achieved the same feat with a time of 3 minutes 01.11seconds.
Hove and Zuze also got silver and bronze medals respectively in the 400m event.
Ashley Miller got a silver in the women’s 100m hurdles.
“These achievements reaffirm the importance of continued investment in athlete development, coaching systems, sports science and high-performance training programmes.
“As Government, we remain committed to creating an enabling environment for our athletes to succeed through improved infrastructure, enhanced international exposure and strengthened support systems,” said Sanyatwe. The 4x400m relay team has had an outstanding performance, qualifying for the World Relays held early this month in Botswana, where they placed fifth and booked their ticket to next year’s World Championships set for Beijing, China.
And now, a gold medal at the continental championships.
“The success recorded in Botswana and Ghana provides renewed confidence as Zimbabwe prepares for future continental and global competitions, including the 2027 World Athletics Championships and other international sporting events.
“We are confident that this team has laid a strong foundation for even greater achievements in the future,” said Sanyatwe.
“As a result of this success, there is need to strengthen athletics infrastructure, sport science support systems and specialised training facilities in order to sustain Zimbabwe’s competitiveness at world level.
“The future of Zimbabwean athletics will depend on our collective ability to invest in modern training environments, rehabilitation systems, talent identification structures and high-performance development programmes that can consistently produce world-class athletes capable of competing for honours on the continental and global stage,” said Sanyatwe.
The trio of Makanakaishe Charamba, Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Miller flew back to the United States while Methembe Tshuma remained in Ghana where he is receiving treatment after picking up an injury during the competition.
The rest of the team arrived back home yesterday in two batches with Ngoni Makusha touching down in the morning, while relay captain Muwishi, Hove, Ndhlovu, Zuze, Derick Matutu, Anesu Nyahuma and Samukeliso Ndebele arrived in the afternoon.
Muwishi thanked the government for honouring them.
“On behalf of the entire athletics team, I would like to express our most sincere gratitude for this wonderful reception held in our honour, following our success at the Africa Senior Championships.
“To the Government of Zimbabwe, to our federation and organising committees, thank you for recognising our efforts and celebrating this achievement with us.
“Your support, both seen and unseen, plays a critical role in everything we have accomplished on and off the track.
“To our coaches and staff, we are deeply appreciative of your guidance, discipline and belief in us, even in moments when the odds seemed against us. This victory is as much yours as it is ours,” said Muwishi.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendai Tagara, said they are grateful to the government for the support throughout the journey, and the various stakeholders that supported the team.
