Online Reporter
Tendai Chara-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Sports and Recreation Commission and Africa Exhibition Group have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to host the Africa Sports and Wellness Expo in Harare scheduled for August 13-15.
The expo will bring together athletes, sports associations, wellness leaders, and scouting agencies, featuring panel discussions, keynote speeches, a sponsored marathon, and an awards dinner.
SRC acting director-general Peter Mudzimiri, who signed on behalf of the sports regulatory body, emphasised the partnership’s significance, highlighting its impact on national development.
AEG CEO Samuel Mupfungautsi thanked the Government for supporting sports and wellness initiatives.
This expo aims to promote sports, wellness, and education, providing a platform for innovation and opportunity
The event will bring together athletes, clubs, academies, schools, sports associations, regulators and wellness leaders and scouting agencies, among other stakeholders.
Panel discussions and keynote speeches featuring legendary athletes and sports and wellness experts will also be held.
A sponsored marathon and an awards and recognition dinner will mark the end of the expo.
“Today’s ceremony represents a shared commitment to purpose, impact, and national development between our two institutions that extends beyond the signing of a document.
“The MoU we sign today lays the foundation for collaboration that will culminate in the hosting of the Africa Sports and Wellness Expo, a flagship initiative that speaks directly to the SRC’s mandate. Moreso, we are launching a joint partnership in the commercialisation of the Sports Acqua mineral water brand,’’ Mudzimiri said.
“As the national regulator, the SRC is charged with the responsibility to promote, develop, and regulate sport and recreation, and critically, to ensure participation in sport and wellness by all members of society.
“This mandate goes beyond the elite performances that we often celebrate and that usually get applause and visibility. It embodies inclusion, access, healthy lifestyles, community engagement, and the social and economic value of sport.
“The Africa Sports and Wellness Expo is therefore a strategic platform that brings together sport, wellness, education, innovation, and opportunity under one umbrella. It allows us to engage communities, institutions, athletes, service providers, and the private sector in a practical and visible way that encourages participation and awareness at a large scale.
“The Sports Acqua partnership is an embodiment of the NDS 2 spirit where government institutions are being encouraged to be innovative and to create value through mutually beneficial Public Private Partnerships, (PPPs). Thus, the SRC/AEG MoU signing ceremony marks a new chapter in the SRC value creation trajectory.
Mudzimiri added that: “Achieving nationwide participation in sport and wellness cannot be done by the SRC alone. It requires strong, capable, and credible partners. The involvement of corporate partners, and particularly AEG, ensures that this drive is broader, deeper, and more meaningful. Such partnerships enhance reach, improve quality, introduce innovation, and help us deliver experiences that solidify the delivery of our mandate.
“This partnership is also well aligned with national development priorities, including Vision 2030 and the transition to NDS2, with emphasis on collaboration, inclusive growth, innovation and improved institutional performance. Sport and wellness are not peripheral to this agenda, they are central to building a healthy, productive, and socially cohesive nation.
“Importantly, while today’s signing is symbolic, the real value of this MoU lies in implementation. Success will be measured by the outcomes we deliver together. When we deliver well-executed fairs and tangible value for communities and the sports ecosystem, then we will be able to celebrate success. The SRC is committed to providing leadership, coordination, and a progressive spirit to ensure this partnership delivers on its promise.’’
Samuel Mupfungautsi, the AEG chief executive officer, thanked the Government for creating an environment that makes it possible for sports and wellness to thrive.
“We are deeply grateful to the SRC and indeed Government for the progressive policy direction, vision frameworks and consistent support for sport, youth development , wellness and public-private collaboration,” Mupfungautsi said.
He said the Africa Sports and Wellness Expo is therefore a strategic platform that brings together sport, wellness, education, innovation, and opportunity under one umbrella.
“We formalise a partnership that reflects a shared commitment to building communities that are healthier through active lifestyles, empowered through sporting opportunities, and competitive through structured sport, wellness, and talent development systems.
“Registered with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Africa Exhibitions Group is committed to positioning Zimbabwe on the global stage through impactful meetings, conventions, and exhibitions. Our mission is to showcase the country’s talent, resources, and culture to attract global attention and investment.
“We are deeply grateful to the SRC and indeed Government, whose progressive policy direction, vision frameworks, and consistent support for sport, youth development, wellness, and public-private collaboration have created an enabling environment in which initiatives such as this can emerge, scale, and thrive.
“The SRC, as the regulator of sport, will continue to provide an important guiding hand for this platform, helping us navigate the sporting arena in line with established regulations, policies, and governance frameworks. This oversight brings credibility, governance assurance, and alignment with national sport and wellness priorities, forming the foundation upon which this partnership is built.
“Our continent, Africa, stands at a defining moment. Two defining megatrends are shaping our future. The first is our demographic dividend. According to estimates from the Population Reference Bureau (The PRB) and United Nations data, Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with a population now exceeding 1.4 billion people and a median age of around 19 years.
“Zimbabwe shares in this youthful energy, which represents an immense reservoir of talent, creativity, athletic excellence, and economic potential. But this potential will only be realised if we intentionally build systems that identify, nurture, and elevate that talent. That belief lies at the very heart of the Africa Sports & Wellness Expo and especially in our Zimbabwe chapter.
“Alongside this youthful energy is a second reality – the national wellness imperative,’’ he said.
