By Wesley Murove and Richard Shumba
Preparations for the Midlands handball inter-district tournament have reached an advanced stage, with the organizers declaring the province fully ready to host its first-ever under-18 and under-14 games.
The highly anticipated event, scheduled for December 5-7 at Chaplin High School, is being organized in partnership with Zimsports4 ED and is expected to attract hundreds of young athletes.
The tournament will be held under the theme “Fighting Drug and Substance Abuse Through Handball.”
Athletes from all eight districts, including Mberengwa, Gokwe North, Zvishavane, Gokwe South, Shurugwi, Churumanzu, Kwekwe, and Gweru, will participate.
Speaking to this publication, Midlands Province handball inter-district tournament CEO Farai Gwisai stated that the scale of the event reflects the province’s commitment to long-term athlete development and youth empowerment.
He pointed out that the competition is designed to expose young talent to competitive structures and is part of the province’s broader program aimed at helping young athletes advance to top-level performance while addressing social issues.
“This initiative is part of the long-term athlete development program for Midlands Province.
The goal is to expose athletes to high-level competition and use sport, particularly handball, as a tool to gather youth and educate them on abstaining from drugs. We expect 544 athletes and 92 officials, and the level of preparedness is extremely high,” Gwisai said.
Gwisai also mentioned that teams had already competed in earlier district tournaments, with the upcoming event serving as a platform to select the best players across all genders.
A management committee and a Local Organizing Committee have been established to ensure the smooth running of the event.
Key stakeholders, including NAC, Red Cross, ZRP, City Council, Ministry of Youth, ZESA, and the Young Talents Plan, will support, oversee, and strengthen the event’s delivery.
The tournament will feature semi-finals and finals, with Midlands Province Minister of State Owen Mudha Ncube expected to attend as the guest of honor.
Secretary General of the Midlands Inter-District Tournament Kumberi Kunashe stated that the Zimbabwe Handball Federation remains the custodian of the sport and its development.
“Hosting this tournament is part of our constitutional mandate.
We aim to provide a platform that educates young people about the dangers of drug and substance abuse under the theme ‘Fighting Drug and Substance Abuse Through Handball,’” he said.
Winners will advance to the Zimbabwe Federation Inter-Provincial Competitions and later participate in an international tour to Sweden, presenting a significant opportunity for young Midlands athletes.
