Organisers of the belated Africa Day sports gala, to be held on Saturday in Harare South, have confirmed that preparations are complete for the event, which will be graced by top Zanu PF officials.
Approximately 10 000 youths from across Harare are expected to converge at Ushewokunze, Harare South, for the sporting extravaganza.
On Thursday, a statement from Voyage Dambuza, the Zanu PF provincial commissar—effectively banning activities by unregistered affiliate organisations—initially threatened to throw the event into turmoil. However, ZimSport chairman Gabriel Togarepi has confirmed that the event is proceeding as planned.
“We are done with all the preparations; the multi-disciplinary sports facility is complete and the event is going ahead,” Togarepi said.
Zanu PF national commissar Munyaradzi Machacha will be the guest of honour at the event, which is also set to be attended by party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa, Sports minister Anselem Sanyatwe, various politburo and central committee members, and industry players.
“We are happy with the progress, and we are pleased that the community will benefit from this infrastructure from tomorrow onwards,” Togarepi added.
The multi-disciplinary facility was built at Canterbury, a school belonging to former Harare South MP Shadreck Mashayamombe, with the assistance of the former legislator.
According to Togarepi, the gala represents an ambitious bid to bring elite sports to underprivileged communities and ensure that sporting activities become economically beneficial to every citizen.
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Over 80 football teams from across Harare are lined up to compete, alongside a similar number of netball and volleyball teams. Participants will also compete in indoor games such as chess, snooker, and darts. Winners will walk away with lucrative prizes to ensure sport becomes rewarding at the grassroots level.
Talent scouts will also be in attendance to identify and sponsor promising athletes for national teams.
Mashayamombe, who assisted with the venue and the construction of the stadium, said the facility will be open for free use by local schools and community members as a means to steer youth away from drug abuse.
There have been concerns that Dambuza’s statement specifically targeted the event due to the acrimonious relationship between Mashayamombe, provincial chairman Goodwills Masimirembwa, and his deputy, Emmanuel Fundukwa, who reportedly feel threatened by the former MP’s popularity in the area.
Fundukwa is allegedly planning to contest the seat in the 2028 general elections and has been holding local gatherings which many have described as campaign rallies.
