Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe has announced a strong team for next week’s African Senior Championships in Ghana.
Coach Phakamile Lisimati was forced to choose available athletes, as those attending US universities are in season. Despite their absence, especially in the jumps where medals looked certain, Lisimati threw his gaze on sprinters where he has made his intentions clear that the relays could be the team’s forte at the World Championships, World Relays and Los Angeles Olympics.
These events will be in 2027 and 2028, respectively. The 4x400m relay team members led by Thandazani Ndlovu, who ran a trailblazing 43.92 seconds one lap in the semi-finals of the World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, on Saturday, Gerren Muwishi, Leeford Zuze, and Dennis Hove.
The team clocked 2 minutes 59.01 seconds to set a national record and ran 2 minutes 59.75 seconds in the final, in which they finished fifth, having already qualified for the 2027 World Championships.
The quartet will run the individual 400m competition, seeking to better their chances of taking part in Beijing at the World Championships next year.
There was room for the Olympians Makanaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu, who holds the 200m record of 19.84 seconds. The duo will also compete in the 4x100m relay alongside new kid on the block Methembe Tshuma, who is lined up for the 200m as well, and Ngoni Makusha, who will compete in the 100m.
Another kid part of the team is Dereck Mathuthu in for the mixed 4x400m relay with hurdler Ashley Miller and Anesu Nyahuma.
Sprint Queen Samukeliso Ndebele will compete in the 100 and 200m events.
Lisimati said this was a wholly new team, praising home-based athletes for turning the heat on and qualifying for the Championships.
“We have sent a completely new team to this 2026 edition of the Senior Championships because of the dynamic changes, young men and women having posted brilliant times, surpassing veterans like captain Gerren Muwishi,” said Lisimati.
He said they are hopeful of picking up several medals at the event.
“We are hoping that as a nation we are going to pick up a number of medals, especially in the relays. We are hoping for medals in the short sprints; we are expecting an increased number of medals. We are looking at quality medals; we are hoping for medals in the relays and short sprints,” said Lisimati.
The added incentive for the athletes is that the qualifying window for the Beijing World Championships has opened.
He praised locally-based athletes for the effort and thanked coaches for pushing them to success.
The Team:
Leeford Zuze – 400m, 4x400m, Hove Dennis – 400m, 4x400m, Thandazani Ndhlovu – 400m, 4x400m, Gerren Muwishi – 400m, 4x400m, Dereck Mathuthu – 4x400m, Methembe Tshuma – 200m, 4x100m, Tapiwanashe Makarawu – 100m, 200m, 4x100m, Makanakaishe Charamba – 200m, 4x100m, Ngoni Makusha – 100m, 4x100m
Females
Ashley Miller – 400mH, 4x400m, Samukeliso Ndebele – 100m, 200m, Anesu Nyahuma – 400m, 4x400m
