A total of US$25 million has been allocated to the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup over the next five years, with US$5 million per year set aside to support men’s, women’s, junior (U14 & U16), 5-A-Side, and beach football competitions.

Speaking at the tournament launch, Emmerson Mnangagwa emphasised inclusivity, saying: “No province, no district, no talent must be left behind.”

He welcomed the joint efforts between the Ministry of Sport, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and ZIFA, noting that the collaboration will strengthen football within the education system.

“The inclusion of women’s football is crucial,” the President added, highlighting that the initiative will give girls in both rural and urban areas equal opportunities to develop their talents.

He encouraged the tournament to serve as a bridge connecting villages to cities and wished the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup every success in its mission to nurture football talent nationwide.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged senior ZANU-PF leaders to work harder and take a more active role in driving the country’s development agenda.

Speaking at the 390th Session of the Politburo in Harare, President Mnangagwa said the time for relaxed or passive leadership is over. He told members that they must take the lead in coming up with ideas that help grow the party and develop the nation.

“The Politburo members are expected to lead from the front as thought leaders who guide the generation of ideas to drive party growth and national development,” President Mnangagwa said.

He stressed that all party departments must focus on delivering real results and properly carrying out Government programmes, especially those under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the country’s current economic blueprint.

The President also reminded party officials to strictly follow the party constitution, saying discipline and regular meetings are key to success.

“Those who chair standing committees of the Central Committee should convene meetings in line with the party Constitution. This approach is central to the effective implementation of National Development Strategy 2,” he said.

President Mnangagwa further urged leaders to stop setting unclear goals and instead focus on specific, time-bound projects that bring visible results.

On the economy, he reaffirmed that ZANU-PF will continue guiding Government policies and implementing strong, people-focused programmes aimed at protecting citizens while growing Zimbabwe’s industries.

His message was clear: leaders must take responsibility, work efficiently, and ensure the country’s development plans are fully implemented.

Takudzwa Karowangoro

Zimbabwe has formally pulled out of talks on a proposed US$350 million health-financing deal after President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa ordered an immediate suspension of the negotiations, citing serious concerns over national sovereignty.

The decision was communicated in a letter dated December 23, authored by Ambassador A.R. Chimbindi, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and addressed to senior officials in the finance and health ministries. The move effectively ends months of engagement between Harare and the United States under Washington’s America First Global Health Strategy, which was being positioned as a new framework for future assistance.

Zimbabwean authorities took issue with provisions in the draft memorandum of understanding that would have granted the US long-term access to the country’s health data. Officials argued that such access posed risks to sensitive population-level information and amounted to undue external intrusion.

In the letter, Chimbindi stated that the President had directed government to immediately abandon discussions on what was described as a heavily skewed agreement that “compromises and undermines the sovereignty and independence of Zimbabwe.”

Negotiators were also alarmed by proposals to link Zimbabwe’s critical minerals sector to the health funding arrangement. Government advisers warned that such an inclusion could allow Washington indirect leverage over strategic economic sectors unrelated to public health but vital to Zimbabwe’s long-term development prospects.

While the draft agreement sparked resistance in Harare, the United States has made progress elsewhere, with more than a dozen African countries reportedly signing similar health cooperation deals.

By the time of publication, the US Embassy in Harare had not issued a response to requests for comment.

Government officials framed Zimbabwe’s withdrawal as a principled position on global health governance. They argued that entering into a bilateral health framework with Washington would be inconsistent with the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, especially given the US decision to distance itself from the World Health Organization during the administration of Donald Trump.

Officials maintained that endorsing a parallel health architecture would effectively legitimise a shift they believe weakened the global health system.

Zimbabwe’s stance, however, comes at a sensitive time. As the country disengages from Washington’s new funding model, it also faces the possibility of reduced American humanitarian support.

With the scaling down of USAID operations and internal US State Department signals pointing to an orderly withdrawal from several African countries, Zimbabwe risks losing long-standing assistance for HIV treatment, nutrition initiatives, and other essential programmes previously classified as lifesaving.