By Chantelle Muzanenhamo.
Harare — President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reaffirmed his unwavering support for sport in Zimbabwe, personally donating US$100 000 to the country’s senior men’s rugby team, the Sables, to bolster their campaign in the Rugby Africa Cup.
The President met with Zimbabwe Rugby Union’s leadership at State House in Harare on Thursday evening, where he handed over the funds and praised the team’s recent performance. He commended the team for their dominant 43–8 victory against Morocco in the quarter-finals, emphasizing the significance of their achievement on the international stage.
“I want to congratulate you, the Sables, for the victory against Morocco. The achievement is pivotal as we embark on our journey to reposition and refocus our sporting delivery systems on the critical path of an excelling sporting nation that Zimbabwe is becoming,” Mnangagwa said.
He further urged the team to see themselves as ambassadors of Zimbabwe beyond the rugby field.
“Your participation in the international arena, as the Sables, automatically makes you brand ambassadors of Zimbabwe. I, therefore, challenge you to utilise this role as sports diplomats to promote our country’s image, our tourism, and investment prospects under our engagement and re-engagement policy.”
The President expressed confidence in the team’s prospects of qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, reaffirming government’s continued backing.
“Be assured that our nation is behind you. Government will continue to support you, and I, your President, am confident of your dedication and sporting capabilities. As you embark on your journey to qualify for the World Cup, may your resurgence yield great success for our country. Go out there and make Zimbabwe proud,” he said.
Following their impressive win over Morocco, the Sables now face Kenya in the semi-finals scheduled for Sunday. The tournament, hosted in Uganda from July 8 to 19, is a key stepping stone towards securing Africa’s sole automatic qualification spot for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Runners up at the tourney will go into playoffs with teams from other continents with the winner also booking their ticket to Australia.
The Zimbabwean team, who are the reigning champions of the Rugby Africa Cup, are determined to defend their title and secure their spot in the global tournament, with the semi-final clash against Kenya set to be one of the two hurdles the team has to pass in their quest for international rugby glory.