Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged the senior national rugby team, the Sables, to use their platform at the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup in Uganda to champion Zimbabwe’s image, tourism, and investment appeal on the international stage.
Speaking at State House in Harare yesterday, where he met members of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) secretariat, players, and technical staff, President Mnangagwa emphasized the importance of sports diplomacy. He also announced a significant US$100,000 cash reward for the team as they seek to defend the title they won last year and secure qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
“Your participation in the international arena automatically makes you brand ambassadors of Zimbabwe,” said the President. “I therefore challenge you to utilise this role as sports diplomats to promote our country’s image, tourism and investment prospects under our engagement and re-engagement policy.”
The 2025 Rugby Africa Cup, which doubles as the continent’s qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, sees Zimbabwe’s Sables vying for the sole automatic qualification spot. After an emphatic 43–8 quarter-final win over Morocco, the Sables are now preparing to face arch-rivals Kenya in the semi-final on Sunday.
President Mnangagwa congratulated the team for their strong start to the tournament and charged them to go further and make the nation proud.
“As you embark on your journey to qualify for the World Cup, may your executions yield great success for our country. Go out there and make Zimbabwe proud. Go, go Zimbabwe. Go Team Zimbabwe,” he said.
The President also expressed satisfaction with the overall development of rugby in Zimbabwe and across Africa, hailing the Africa Cup as a valuable platform for showcasing sporting talent.
“My Government is impressed with the growth and development of rugby, not only in Zimbabwe but on the continent as a whole,” he said. “The Africa Rugby Cup Championships will see eight African rugby powerhouses competing for top honours. It is a platform that provides an opportunity to ascertain Zimbabwe’s performance on a continental scale.”
ZRU Chief Executive Officer Sifiso Made welcomed the President’s financial support, describing it as a morale booster ahead of the high-stakes clash against Kenya.
“This will go a long way in ensuring that the team is motivated,” said Made. “Now they know that they can feed their families and of course put something in their pockets. It’s a great incentive for them… We play for Zimbabwe first and foremost but it’s always nice to know that there is an incentive behind it.”
Should Zimbabwe overcome Kenya, they will face the winner of the other semi-final between Namibia and Algeria in the final — with a World Cup berth on the line.
