Zimbabwe Olympic Committee

Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 Unleashes 22-Strong Squad for SACA Championships in Mauritius

HARARE — The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) will deploy an elite 22-member junior squad 💪🏾 to the Southern African Confederation of Athletics (SACA) U18 and U20 Championships in Mauritius 🇲🇺 .

Taking place from June 5–7, 2026, 🗓️ at the state-of-the-art Côte d'Or National Sports Complex, the event stands as a crucial battleground for the region’s finest emerging talents.

Zimbabwe’s heavily stacked roster of sprinters, middle-distance runners, hurdlers, and field stars will not only hunt for regional glory but will aggressively chase qualification times for the prestigious 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon.

Selected from the Crucible
Forged through grueling NAAZ trials and standout performances at the National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) National Championships, this 2026 contingent features a dangerous mix of proven titleholders and explosive rising stars.

Leading the charge for Team Zimbabwe are three critical headline acts to watch on the track:

📌Anesu Nyahuma (U20 400m Standout): The 18-year-old phenom continues her meteoric rise. Fresh off a high-stakes baptism of fire against the continent's elite seniors at the African Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana, Nyahuma is primed to convert that invaluable continental experience into gold-medal 🥇performances in Mauritius. She arrives with immense momentum after previously destroying the track with a blistering 56.18-second victory at the NASH National Championships.

📌Emmanuel Uriga (U20 400m King): Uriga has rapidly transformed into one of the country's most feared quarter-milers. He sent shockwaves through the local circuit by claiming the NASH U20 boys' 400m throne🏆 in a historic 47.55 seconds. Backed by impressive outings at recent NAAZ Junior and Senior open meets, he is actively hunting down the global qualifying marks.

📌Trey Chimunya (U20 Sprint Ace): A relentless short-sprint specialist, Chimunya brings essential regional pedigree to the squad. Having already clocked ⏰ highly competitive times on regional circuits earlier this season, he will look to leverage his explosive start to dominate both the 100m and 200m fields.

With a potent mix of raw power and tactical experience, Team Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 is perfectly positioned to make a loud statement on the regional stage and punch their tickets to Oregon. They will look to tap into the experience and expertise of coach Aaron Whyte.

Team Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 Squad List

🏃🏾‍♀️Women Under 18

PraiseGod Nyamulepa (100m and 200m)
Delight Maravanyika (100m and 200m)

🏃🏾‍♂️‍➡️Men Under 18

Malachi Mafunga (400m and 800m)
Cavin Banga (400m hurdles)
Kebonyemosemane Ndebele (800m)
Tanatswa Nyamukondiwa (100m)

🏃‍♀️Women Under 20

Shalom Sendi (100m and 200m)
Anesu Nyahuma (400m)
Tashinga Ngirazi (100m and 200m)
Nataly Shoko (400m and 400m hurdles)
Hayley Chingomo (100m and 200m)
Martha Chipuriro (800m)

🏃🏾‍♂️‍➡️Men Under 20

Trey Chimunya (100m and 200m)
Takudzwa Mbonyeke (100m and 200m)
Nenyasha Chihora (400m)
Emmanuel Uriga (400m)
Alvin Simon (200m and 400m)
Gift Khumalo (800m)
Tawananyasha Chakonda (110m hurdles and long jump)
Panashe Matenure (long jump)
Tatenda Chindowa (high jump)
Takunda Mutizwa (triple jump and long jump)

🌍🏅 The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee is proud to host the ANOCA Zone VI Gender Equality and Diversity Forum in Victoria Falls, bringing together representatives from all 10 National Olympic Committees in the region:

🇦🇴 Angola | 🇧🇼 Botswana | 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 🇲🇼 Malawi | 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 🇳🇦 Namibia | 🇿🇦 South Africa | 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 🇿🇲 Zambia | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

The forum will serve as a platform for collaboration, learning, and action as delegates work towards advancing gender equality and diversity across sport in the region.

Key discussions will focus on:
✅ Olympic Solidarity as a tool for achieving ANOCA Zone VI objectives
✅ Progress on the Johannesburg Declaration and AUSC Region 5 Action Plan
✅ Women in leadership, governance, coaching and technical roles
✅ Safe Sport systems and safeguarding mechanisms
✅ Fair and empowering representation of women in sport
✅ Financing women’s sport and creating sustainable pathways
✅ Athlete welfare, including maternity rights and health policies
✅ Digital safety and tackling online abuse
✅ Development and presentation of National Olympic Committee Gender Equality Action Plans

The forum will conclude with commitments aimed at strengthening regional collaboration and accelerating progress towards a more inclusive sporting landscape across Zone VI.

Stacey Hyslop strikes pot of gold in Abijan

Zimbabwe Olympic hopeful Stacey Hyslop has written another chapter of cycling success for her country, following a spectacular performance at the 2026 CAC Mountain Bike Continental Championships in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Competing in the prestigious Women’s Elite Cross-Country division, Hyslop went head-to-head against Africa's finest riders.

Her masterclass performance on the dirt tracks earned her a spot on the podium, drawing praise across the nation.

🥇 MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to Stacey Hyslop! 🥇

Stacey takes the WIN in the MTB XCO race at the 2026 Continental Championships in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire! 🌍🚵‍♀️💨

Pure grit, speed, and determination on a challenging course. So well deserved, Stacey! 🇿🇼👏

👇 Drop a 🚴‍♀️ in the comments to congratulate her!





GoldMedal

The Zambezi Eagles capped off their TNL2026 campaign at the Ellis Park Arena with an exhilarating victory over the Southern Stings. The win was a fantastic finish to their tournament run, showcasing resilience, exciting gameplay, and the continued growth of Zimbabwean netball.

Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF) representative Susanne Hvidsten praised the thriving sports culture at Tongogara Refugee Camp during an weekend sports exhibition.Organised by Tambai Zimbabwe, the event gave Hvidsten a first-hand look at the camp's ongoing athletic initiatives.

The NIF sponsors these programs alongside partners that include the Judo Association of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Volleyball Association. The projects are spearheaded on the ground by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) and Tambai Zimbabwe.Accompanied by ZOC staff, Hvidsten expressed her admiration for the community's engagement.

“It's the first time visiting this settlement and it's been a great day. We have seen so many different sports being played out, so many happy children, adults, people of all ages doing different sports. My organisation NIF is supporting the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and also the organisation Tambai who work here in Tongagara,” she said. “Being able to see how much they have contributed and especially how they have been able to introduce so many new sports in the camp has been really, really great. In NIF we talk about joy of sports for all and I think that's what we have definitely seen here today.”

The Zambezi Eagles soared past the Kingdom Stars to secure a crucial bounce-back victory, recovering from their narrow 55-53 setback against the Aloes and keeping their momentum alive in the Telcom Netball League tournament.

The Eagles delivered a fantastic performance, taking down the Kingdom Stars to add another win to their campaign.

Key Player: Perisinevi Tabviroona was the standout performer, earning Player of the Match award.

Tough Fights: Prior to this, the Zimbabwean invitational side pushed strong South African teams to the limit, including the narrow loss to the Aloes and a 56-47 defeat to the Golden Fireballs at the Ellis Park Arena.

The team remains highly motivated as they continue to test combinations and build international experience against South Africa's best

Zambezi Eagles showcased great promise despite narrow 55-53 loss to Aloes in a highly competitive and thrilling Telkom Netball League encounter.

Despite the defeat, the match showcased the Eagles' rapid development, resilience, and tactical ex*****on against a tough opponent. The technical team noted several positive takeaways, particularly in mid-court transitions and defensive pressure, which will be vital for future fixtures. The team remains highly motivated, focusing on long-term growth and consistent performance as the tournament progresses.

The Zambezi Eagles secured a spectacular Player of the Match award for Prudence Sibanda following an incredible all-round performance against the Jaguars at the Ellis Park Arena!This high-flying invitational development side from the Zimbabwe Netball Association is using this intense tournament to blood "new blood" and build vital chemistry ahead of the 2027 Netball World Cup