Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Rugby Union elections will only be held after the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with World Rugby and Rugby Africa backing the Paddy Zhanda Jnr-led Interim Management Committee to remain in charge beyond the tournament.
Rugby Africa president Herbert Mensah said the Sports and Recreation Commission had agreed to the extension to provide stability ahead of Zimbabwe’s return to the World Cup in Australia.
“The extension came about during my last visit here in Zimbabwe,” said Mensah.
“I spoke to His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa and explained to him the structure of the IMC and the reasons behind its existence.
“We spoke about our desire to extend their tenure beyond the World Cup, and then we had discussions with the Sport and Recreation Commission, which also confirmed the same.
“What you need now is stability. After the World Cup in 2027, we will put together a system that takes us to elections.
“We need to look at your constitution again.”
World Rugby chairperson Brett Robinson, who is leading an official visit to Zimbabwe, said the global body was satisfied with the work done by the committee.
“Look, I think the IMC and Paddy have done a wonderful job,” said Robinson.
“We have spent the day with them running through their governance and their investment in both the men’s and women’s teams, and we are very much satisfied with what we have seen so far.
“They have got some really capable people now working in the IMC, and from our perspective we just want to see them continue to thrive through to next year and beyond.
“Obviously, they need to rebuild trust with their stakeholders and sponsors so that everyone knows the sport is well governed and that their money is going to be well invested.
“And we have every confidence in the team.”
Mensah said the governance failures under the previous administration had placed Zimbabwe’s World Cup participation at risk and made the formation of the IMC necessary.
“Confusion characterised your last board. Your previous union president was suspended, the union was operating without a bank account, and you haven’t held an AGM for three years,” he said.
“All these factors put your World Cup qualification at risk.
“It took a lot of political strength to come back and persuade my chairperson, Robinson, not to look at Zimbabwe in a negative way.
“I assured him that we would fix this situation.
“And then, with the cooperation of some members and stakeholders, the SRC and Government, we were able to come up with the concept of the IMC.”
Robinson and Mensah are joined on the visit by World Rugby chief of international federations David Carrigy and Dave Gilbert, advisor to the Rugby Africa president and former Botswana Rugby Union president.
Their meetings with local stakeholders will also cover the Sables’ competition and preparation programme, Zimbabwe’s integration into World Rugby’s expanded international pathway and the November 2026 Nations Cup fixtures.
Mensah said the constitutional review would be central to the eventual return to an elected ZRU leadership.
“It is now time for us to get it right,” he said.
“The constitution of Zimbabwe Rugby must be on par with what we have now.
“We just changed the constitution of Rugby Africa, while World Rugby has had a complete constitutional review.
“Zimbabwe definitely has to do it too.”
