The National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) is set for a bumpy ride in 2025 after one of their key sponsors Baldmin Holdings withdrew their support for the association and its activities in the coming years.
Baldmin Holdings, who have been bankrolling a number of local competitions such as the triangular series, Gift Chigwere Junior Championships and most of the international trips, expressed concern about the infighting in the association post 2024 elections.
Costar Takawira Magwende, a man whose heart is after Zimbabwe athletics, is the founder and CEO of Baldmin Holdings Group, and was interested in running for the NAAZ presidency at the annual general meeting so that he could take the sport to the next level.
However, his nomination was cancelled under unclear circumstances but he remained determined, to continue sponsoring the NAAZ events and activities.
But it is the witchhunt which has continued after the election against perceived opponents who are thought to be against the incumbent leader Tendai Tagara, which has prompted Baldmin Holdings to pull the plug.
Tagara is now into the fourth term as the NAAZ president, a period in which the standards of athletics in Zimbabwe have gone down.
"Baldmin Holdings and its partners have decided to focus on grassroots sports development and work with athletes in the rural areas like Zvishavane and Murehwa to mention a few, awarding scholarships to the USA for top talent from high schools including sponsorship of the Bulawayo Half Marathon due to a number of reasons and dissatisfaction with how the sport is being run at the moment," the company said in a statement.
"Our last event will be the sportsperson of the year awards, which have been moved to 2025 even though NAZ never communicated with us formally as the main sponsors of the event. All the awards were ready in October 2024, but because of the infighting at NAZ the event has been moved on several occasions.
- Tagara re-elected into Confederation of African Athletics Council committee
- All set for NAAZ Junior Championships.
- 60 shortlisted for African Junior Athletics champs
- 50 Zim athletes in Zambia for Africa Junior Champs
Keep Reading
"It’s unfortunate that the last elections are being used for witchhunting to punish those who had different views from the current administration. Our belief was that elections are over and it’s time to work as one team for the benefit of our sports and youth at large. As an organisation we don’t want to be associated with anti sport developments as it’s the youth that stand to lose out, without them there won’t be administrators etc in sport.
"This wasn’t an easy decision to make but we had to make this difficult decision. Baldmin and its partners feel that the brand will be tarnished if it continues swimming in these muddy waters," added the statement.
According to Baldmin Holdings, governors and other administrators who supported other candidates in the previous NAAZ board elections are now being victimised by the current administration and we have proof of such happenings.
"Baldmin and its partners will not be part of these political battles as they believe in developing sport, helping kids from disadvantaged communities and backgrounds without fear or favour. We believe in equal opportunity for all children, and these athletes have coaches and parents who are part of the provincial boards so they can’t succeed if their pillars are being attacked for having different ideas," it added.
"Baldmin and its partners will work with everyone whose interests is in sport development and continues to support all the needy including putting up structures and grounds in remote places to benefit the youth.
"We fully wish the current administration all the best and we will reconsider our decision when the playing field is calm and everyone is treated fairly with a true sportsmanship spirit."
