Online Reporter
Tendai Chara-Zimpapers Sports Hub
NOAH “Hulk” Dzvokora is closing the year the way every bodybuilder dreams of — lifting trophies while the cash keeps piling up.
His surge began on October 25 when he strode onto the Harare Classic stage, calm but coiled and swept aside a stacked field of Zimbabwe’s finest.
He left the 7 Arts Theatre US$3 000 richer and with the crowd buzzing about how far ahead he looked.
Barely three weeks later, on November 15, he was back under the lights in Victoria Falls for the Hwange Colliery Company Zimbabwe Nationals.
Again, he delivered, this time taking home the 2025 Senior Men Bodybuilding crown and US$5 000.
In less than a month, Dzvokora earned US$8 000, a rare haul in local bodybuilding and a sign of how fast the sport’s landscape is shifting.
As the season winds down, both the Harare Classic and the Zimbabwe Nationals have given local bodybuilding something it has not enjoyed in years — momentum.
And it is the nationals, the sport’s flagship showpiece, which surprised even seasoned insiders with a string of positives.
The field was the biggest shock. A record 90 contestants made their way to Victoria Falls, smashing the old mark of 70.
The surge came from an unlikely source. Hwange Colliery Company provided free transport and accommodation to any athlete willing to compete, a gesture that cleared one of the sport’s biggest hurdles.
For many cash-strapped competitors who often have to skip events because they cannot afford travel or lodging, this was a lifeline.
A strong judges’ panel added weight to the occasion.
Leading it was Bernard Groenewald, a respected international judge from South Africa, whose presence helped erase long-standing whispers about bias in local adjudication.
Many athletes came simply because they trusted the process would be clean. The mood backstage reflected that shift.
The event also showcased what happens when federations and corporate sponsors pull in the same direction.
Veteran bodybuilder Masiye Suwali did not hide his appreciation.
“This is what we need for local bodybuilding to grow rapidly,” he said. “If we have two or more companies doing this, I assure you, we will soon be able to compete at some of the world’s most prestigious competitions.”
Top talent responded to that energy.
The defending champion, Gedion Teguru, made the trip.
So did Nigel “Spartan” Maphosa from South Africa and Edward “Gearbox” Mutero, who finished fourth.
They joined a field drawn from almost every corner of the country. Gwanda’s Seaton Nyoni, Masvingo’s Tadiwa Kwangare, Gweru’s Tendai Muzavazi and Mutare’s Munya Sabani all cracked the top six in their categories.
Zvishavane’s Blessing Korai claimed the Women Wellness Fitness title. Bulawayo had its own strong presence through Quinton Phiri and Marko Mwale.
Prize money went deeper too. Every athlete who finished in the top six across categories received cash, a break from the old system where only the top three walked away with something in their pockets.
It may seem small, but in this sport, gestures like that keep athletes training, hopeful and invested.
By the end of the night, National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness secretary-general Quiet Shangai was overwhelmed.
He turned to social media to express his delight.
“We are grateful to those stakeholders that contributed to the successful hosting of the event,” he said. “We broke attendance records and we had a very competent judges’ panel. The contestants were in great shape.”
The Harare Classic organisers had set the tone weeks earlier.
Their show ran smoothly and professionally, and the turnout at 7 Arts proved that the public still has an appetite for the sport.
The packed auditorium showed that bodybuilding, once feared to be losing its shine, still has loyal crowds ready to cheer a confident pose or a perfect flex.
It has been a long season, but a rewarding one. For Dzvokora, it ends with cash, trophies and a widening gap between himself and the rest. For the sport, it feels like the start of something steadier.
