ED launches Munhumutapa Cup

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday launched the country’s biggest football knockout tournament, the Zifa Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, valued at US$25 million over the next five years.

The competition was inaugurated yesterday in Harare with President Mnangagwa as the guest of honour. High-level dignitaries in attendance included businessman Kuda Tagwirei, Betterbrands chairman Pedzai “Scott” Sakupwanya, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sport, Nicholas Goche.

The mega tournament, which will be sponsored at a rate of US$5 million per year, will feature both men’s and women’s premiership clubs, lower division sides, area zones, futsal, beach soccer, and organised social teams.

The new competition adopts an FA Cup-style format, bringing together all registered teams from Zifa’s structures—from the Premier Soccer League down to the lower divisions, area zones, futsal, and beach soccer.

Winners of the cup tournament will clinch a US$1 million cheque, with US$500,000 of the total prize money set aside to fund the club’s participation in the TotalEnergies Caf Confederation Cup. 

The winner of the women’s competition will pocket US$200,000, while the junior football development competition winners will pocket US$100, 000, while the futsal and beach soccer winners will take home US$30,000 and US$20,000, respectively.

Addressing the football community from across the country, including top-flight clubs, lower division sides and academies, President Mnangagwa challenged Zifa to implement the tournament with transparency and accountability to achieve the desired outcomes.

“Football occupies a unique and powerful position in the life of our nation; it is more than a sport; it is a unifying force, a platform for aspiration, and a vehicle through which discipline, resilience, and national pride are expressed.

“Across villages, towns and cities, football speaks a common language, bringing together generations, communities and provinces into a shared national experience.

“It is for this reason that the Government of Zimbabwe accords strategic importance to sport, and football in particular, as a driver of youth empowerment, social cohesion, economic participation, and national development.

“The ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup is therefore not conceived as a routine competition, but as a deliberate national intervention, designed to structurally transform football in Zimbabwe over the medium to long term,” said Mnangagwa.

“Anchored on a five-year horizon and supported through dedicated national funding, this programme represents a decisive shift from fragmented sporting activities to a coherent, inclusive, and sustainable football development framework.

“Equally important, this initiative aligns football development with broader national objectives, such as youth empowerment, employment creation, community development, gender equality, education, health awareness, and social protection.

“Through structured competitions, education programmes, safeguarding policies, and strategic partnerships, football is repositioned as a tool for nation-building.”

Speaking on behalf of Minister of Sport Anselem Sanyatwe, Minister of Youth Tino Machakaire applauded the initiative as a game-changer for the development of the local game.

“Sport remains one of the most powerful national instruments for social transformation, youth empowerment, economic participation, and the strengthening of national identity.

“This initiative represents a strategic shift from fragmented competitions toward a coordinated, inclusive, and nationally integrated football development architecture capable of delivering long-term developmental impact,” said Machakaire.

“The programme’s emphasis on grassroots expansion, junior development pathways, women’s football growth, safeguarding, education, and structured national competitions aligns directly with Government priorities under the national sport development agenda.

“By integrating football into community development, youth skills development, and social empowerment frameworks, the initiative positions sport not merely as recreation but as a catalyst for national productivity, social cohesion, and economic opportunity.

“The Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, therefore, applauds the Zimbabwe Football Association for the strategic vision demonstrated through the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup and reaffirms its full institutional support toward the successful execution of this national programme.

“With disciplined implementation, strong governance, and collective stakeholder commitment, this initiative has the capacity to redefine the future of Zimbabwean football while contributing meaningfully to national development and youth empowerment,” said Machakaire.

Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi believes the tournament will go a long way in developing and identifying talent across the country, acting as a feeder to the national team.

“The Zifa Munhumutapa Challenge Cup establishes a clear development continuum, from grassroots to elite level, ensuring that talent identification, competition, education, and progression are harmonised within one national framework.

“Men’s and women’s football are treated with equal strategic importance, while junior football is industrialised through structured leagues, national tournaments, and digital registration systems,” said Magwizi.

“Equally critical is the programme’s emphasis on governance, integrity, and sustainability. Every component is designed to comply with Zifa statutes, Caf and Fifa regulations, and best-practice principles of financial management and operational oversight.

“This programme is also a partnership platform, bringing together government, the private sector, communities, education institutions, and development agencies. Football succeeds when it is collectively owned and professionally managed.

“As Zifa, we are committed to executing this programme with discipline, transparency, and ambition. Its success will define not only the next five years, but the long-term legacy of Zimbabwean football.”

The competition was also given the thumbs up by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who, in his statement, commended President Mnangagwa and Zifa for the establishment of the tournament.

“What a great day for football in your wonderful country. The launch of the Zifa Munhumutapa Challenge Cup is a momentous occasion and I congratulate you all on bringing this fabulous project to life.

“I’m especially heartened by such strong government support and thank you, Mr. President, for that,” said Infantino.