Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube In ACCRA, Ghana
WHEN the medals were handed out in the men’s 400m final at the African Senior Championships at the University of Ghana, two Zimbabwe athletes went up the podium.
Former Hamilton High School pupil Dennis Hove took silver in 44.92 seconds, and Leeford Zuze sealed bronze in 45.03s. Botswana’s Lee Eppie won gold in 44.66s.
But the moment that truly captured Zimbabwe’s growing influence in African athletics happened off the track.
Handing out the medals was Tendai Tagara, president of the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe.
In a twist of continental administration, the Confederation of African Athletics had assigned Tagara as the presenter long before the finalists were known.
“It was a coincidence, but a fitting one,” Tagara said.
“In a way, Zimbabwe could lay claim to all three medals.”
That claim rests on more than pride. For over 20 years, Zimbabwe has been a training hub for athletics officials and coaches across Southern Africa under programmes supported by the Confederation of African Athletics and World Athletics.
Botswana coaches who now produce world-class athletes trained in Bulawayo under Zimbabwean coach Phakamile Lisimati and NAAZ technical programmes supported by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee, NAAZ and international mother boy.
Tagara and regional lecturers Lisimati, Alfred Mafiro and Bhekuzulu Khumalo have led courses that have shaped the technical backbone of athletics in Botswana, Zambia and beyond.
“We have trained Botswana coaches, who are now producing athletes that compete at the highest level. That’s the real win for Zimbabwe athletics,” Tagara said.
The result in Accra underlined that point. Three of the eight finalists were Zimbabwean-trained or Zimbabwean-born, and two stood on the podium. Thandazani Ndhlovu also made the final, finishing 8th in 45.38s after easing in the last 60m.
While the spotlight falls on the athletes, officials say the behind-the-scenes work is what sustains the region.
“Success isn’t only measured in medals won by Zimbabweans,” Tagara said. “It’s in building capacity across Africa so the whole region rises.”
For a country investing in capacity building, the story of Zimbabwe’s technical export is one of resilience and quiet leadership.
In Accra, it has been on full display — even if the world was watching the finish line.
