THE 2026 Harare Mayor's Challenge Cup is set to take on an international flavour, with organisers targeting participation from across Southern Africa as they seek to establish the tournament as one of the region's premier Taekwondo events.
The championship, which will be hosted by Harare City Taekwondo Club in partnership with the Zimbabwe Taekwondo Association at the City Sports Centre from August 15 to 16, is expected to attract competitors from the SADC Region Five bloc after invitations were extended to neighbouring countries.
Organisers believe attracting foreign athletes and officials will not only raise the standard of competition but also help position Zimbabwe as a regular host of major regional Taekwondo tournaments.
Zimbabwe Taekwondo Association president Benson Zwizwai said the association was eager to give the championship an international identity from its inception.
"We are very excited about the Harare Mayor's Challenge Cup Taekwondo Championship. We are expecting quite a huge turnout and we have extended invitations to some of our colleagues in the region. We sincerely hope the tournament will have an international flavour," Zwizwai said.
He said the long-term vision was to make the Mayor's Challenge Cup a permanent fixture on the regional calendar.
"We are looking at countries within the Region Five bloc. We want this championship to raise excitement about Taekwondo in Zimbabwe."
Beyond attracting regional participation, organisers are also working to secure the attendance of senior figures from the continental governing body in a move that would further enhance the profile of the event.
Zwizwai, who recently secured a two-year advisory role within continental Taekwondo structures, said he was making efforts to bring high-ranking Africa Taekwondo Union officials to Harare.
"I will try to invite two other colleagues from the Africa Taekwondo Union Council, one from Lesotho and another based in Botswana who is the Africa Taekwondo Union technical director. I am hoping to persuade them to come, although the time is fairly short," he said.
The association is also targeting the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, senior government officials, representatives from the Ministry of Sport, the Sports and Recreation Commission and the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
While the international focus remains a key objective, the tournament will also play an important role in Zimbabwe's preparations for the Region Five Games in Mozambique later this year.
The event follows Zimbabwe's successful campaign at the previous Region Five Games in Eswatini, where the national team returned with gold, silver and bronze medals.
Zwizwai believes the Mayor's Challenge Cup will provide the level of competition needed to help Zimbabwe improve on that performance.
"Our hosts, Harare City Taekwondo Club, have already shown what they are capable of. They brought home gold, silver and bronze medals at the last Region Five Games," he added.
"As an association, we promised the Sports and Recreation Commission that we want to progress from bronze to silver and ultimately to gold. This championship forms part of our preparations for the Region Five Games in Mozambique."
Harare City Taekwondo Club chairperson Martin Chimombe said preparations for the tournament were on course, with both local athletes and regional participants responding positively.
"We have informed all the relevant local authorities and our association leadership. The athletes have already registered and SADC countries have also been invited. We are expecting a huge turnout," Chimombe said.
He added that organisers were working closely with the Zimbabwe Taekwondo Association to ensure every requirement was met ahead of the two-day championship.
With plans to attract competitors and officials from across Southern Africa, the Harare Mayor's Challenge Cup is being positioned as more than just a domestic tournament, with organisers hoping it will evolve into a flagship international Taekwondo competition on Zimbabwe's sporting calendar.
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