Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S sprint sensation Tapiwanashe Makarawu is widely expected to walk away with the Senior Athlete of the Year Award when the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) hosts its annual awards ceremony in Bindura on Saturday.
The event will celebrate the country’s standout performers from a season in which, despite failing to claim medals on the global stage, Zimbabwean athletes showed clear progress and growing competitiveness.
Makarawu, who last year clocked the third best time among local sprinters, underlined his status as the nation’s “King of the Track” by setting a new national record of 19.84 seconds in the 200m. His consistency throughout 2025 has placed him firmly among the continent’s elite.
He faces stiff competition from his training partner and fellow 200m star, Panashe Charamba, whose impressive 19.92 second run also turned heads internationally. Both men reached the World Championships semi finals, taking on giants like Noah Lyles and Letsile Tebogo.
Makarawu finished seventh, while Charamba narrowly missed out on the final after placing ninth.
Though they left without medals, their performances were significant, a statement that Zimbabwean sprinters now belong among the world’s best.
Defending champion and marathon specialist Isaac Mpofu completes the trio of nominees for the men’s top honour. While he didn’t post exceptional times this season, his 10th place finish at the World Championships marathon was a commendable result against a top-class field.
On the women’s side, Vimbai Maisvoreva leads the race for the Female Athlete of the Year award. The 400m runner set a new national record, qualified for the World Championships, and ranked among the top 30 globally in her event. She will compete against hurdler Ashley Miller and marathoner Fortunate Chidzivo, who also featured at the World Championships in Japan two months ago.
Veteran marathon coach Ben Chauke, who has shaped some of Zimbabwe’s finest distance runners since the mid 1990s, is among the favourites for Coach of the Year. He is up against Yadah Athletics Club’s Mavhuto Thumba and Gwanda based Zibusiso Nyoni of the Keip Keino Athletics Club.
In the Junior Coach of the Year category, McGregor Manhuwa, Efredge Ndlovu, and former Olympian Cuthbert Nyasango are in the running. For Youth Coach of the Year, the nominees are Njere Shumba, Walter Kuagara, and Neria Tembo.
To reward grassroots efforts, the Best Athletics Province title will be contested by Bulawayo, Harare, and Mashonaland West. The Official of the Year nominees are Enias Nhoro, Tawanda Mutero, and Jim Collen.
Rising stars Takunda Mutizwa, Gift Khumalo, Tawananyasha Chimunya, Martha Chipuriro, Anesu Nyahuma, Hayle Chingono, Jackson Nyamazana, Ishmael Mafoti, Kimberley Kachambwa, Miller Mullar, and Tulange Mudenda headline the junior and youth categories.
NAAZ deputy president Siphathisiwe Machaya said preparations were complete.
“It’s all systems go,” said Machaya. “I was in Bindura to check on the level of preparedness, and I’m impressed with what I saw. All nominees have been invited, and we look forward to a brief ceremony after the cross-country championships.”
The awards will follow Saturday’s national cross country championships, where athletes from all ten provinces will compete. A team will then be selected to represent Zimbabwe at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, United States, on January 10 next year.
NAAZ competitions director Manuel Mpofu confirmed that every province had submitted its team lists. “All provinces have confirmed participation and sent in their starting lists,” said Mpofu.
Mathew Masinge