Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
DEPUTY Minister of Lands and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Davis Marapira says the Zacsa Games are a platform for building unity, discipline and resilience.
The Ministry’s annual Sports Gala reached its climax on Friday, with finals across various sporting disciplines taking place.
The week-long event, hosted by Esigodini Agricultural College under the Zimbabwe Agricultural Colleges Sports Association (Zacsa) brought together students from eight agricultural institutions across the country.
The inter-college competition not only provided a platform for healthy competition but also encouraged physical wellness, social interaction and the development of sporting talent, among students pursuing agricultural studies.
Participating institutions include Chibero, Gwebi, Kushinga, Phikelela, Mlezu, Mazowe Veterinary, Rio Tinto, Shamva and the host college, Esigodini.
Zacsa officials say the annual gala continues to be a vital platform for promoting unity and teamwork among students while enhancing extracurricular engagement across the nation’s agricultural colleges.
In the women’s football final, Gwebi won 1-0 against Mlezu.
The ladies’ volleyball final saw Kushinga record a 3-1 victory over Mlezu, while the men’s category had Mazowe winning 3-0 against Gwebi.
A tense netball final saw hosts Esigodini win a tightly contested match 36-31 against Kushinga.
Speaking at the event’s closing ceremony, Marapira described the games as inspiring.
“It is an honour and a great pleasure to join you today at the closing ceremony of this year’s Zacsa Games Gala. What a vibrant and inspiring event this has been! The annual Zacsa Games are not just a showcase of athletic talent. They serve a much greater purpose. They are a platform for building unity, discipline and resilience. They remind us of the value of teamwork, the importance of health and wellness and the power of sport to bring people together across backgrounds and campuses.”
He went on to commend the college for its efforts in hosting the event.
“I want to take this opportunity to applaud the college for successfully self-funding this event. That is a commendable feat — especially in the current economic climate. However, as we look ahead, I encourage the leadership to explore the possibility of securing strategic partnerships and sponsors.
“This would ease the financial burden and elevate the games to even greater prominence. Let us remember, the Chibuku Trophy, which once brought together Gwebi and Chibero colleges in friendly yet fierce competition, all under the support of committed partners. That model can still work today.”
Marapira highlighted the importance of recognising top-performing participants.
“One of the exciting outcomes of these games is the identification of the most outstanding teams and individual athletes. I fully support the idea of selecting the best-performing team to go on and represent not just their college, but Zimbabwe itself — by competing against agricultural colleges beyond our borders.”
He emphasised the value of international exposure for students.
“Exposure to international competition will inspire excellence, broaden perspectives, and build lasting networks for our youth. Let’s make that vision a reality.
“As we reflect on these positive developments, we must also remain vigilant about challenges facing our students. One such challenge is drug and substance abuse.
“We cannot ignore its destructive effects on our communities and our future. Sport should be a safe space, an empowering space where young people develop character, not bad habits. Discipline on the field must be matched with discipline off the field.”
Marapira also addressed the importance of mental strength in sport.
“Let us nurture athletes who are strong in both body and mind. Allow me to sincerely thank the organisers, the sponsors, the staff and most importantly, the students for the passion, energy and dedication that brought this event to life. Your commitment is the reason we are all gathered here today in celebration. At the Ministry, we are deeply committed to our vision of food security everywhere, every day. And I believe that what we see in Zacsa is directly connected to that mission,” he said.
Marapira also drew parallels between sport and agriculture.
“Sport teaches preparation, strategy, endurance and teamwork — exactly the same values we need in agriculture. The strong, focused and disciplined youth we are celebrating today are the very same ones we look to for tomorrow’s agricultural transformation. In conclusion, I encourage us all to keep building on this momentum. Let us continue to empower our young people — on the pitch, in the classroom and in the fields.”
