Bulawayo, (New Ziana)-A grassroots cricket initiative in the country is taking the sport into rural schools, combining talent development with campaigns against drug abuse as it seeks to widen access beyond the game’s traditional urban strongholds.
In an interview on the sidelines of an interactive session at Queen Press Club on Monday, director of cricket affairs and operations at Cricket Ekhaya Ekasi Dumisani Mankunzini outlined an expansion into Midlands and Matabeleland North provinces, where the organisation is introducing cricket to schools, training teachers and providing equipment.
Cricket Ekhaya-Ekasi is dedicated to developing cricket talent from grassroots levels, focusing on marginalized communities across Zimbabwe.
“We focus more on the trainer programmes, where we go to schools and introduce cricket to schools where they don’t have cricket at all.
Mankunzini said the project aims to give children across Zimbabwe equal access to cricket, while also building a wider network of coaches, umpires, administrators and ground workers to support the sport’s growth.
“I believe that there is a lot of untapped talent in the rural areas, so we need to cover that gap,” he explained.
Mankunzini said the programme has reached more than 60 schools in Midlands, including rural, township and private institutions, and is now turning attention towards Victoria Falls, Binga, Tsholotsho, Lupane and Nkayi under a partnership with Zimbabwe Cricket.
“We want every child in Zimbabwe to have an equal opportunity to pick up a cricket bat and ball. At the same time, we are developing the coaches, umpires, administrators and ground staff needed to grow the game,” he said.
He explained that Cricket Ekhaya Ekasi has created centres in areas including Binga, Tsholotsho and Nkayi, while equipment donations have helped schools begin playing the sport.
“One early success came after a Grade 4 girl from Binga was named player of the tournament at a competition featuring rural and Bulawayo teams, earning a scholarship at Masiyephambili Junior School.
“The programme will be successful the day we will have players from rural areas representing Zimbabwe Under-19. We will have three of them, playing and winning the World Cup for Zimbabwe,” he stressed.
Mankunzini highlighted that initiative also positions cricket as a response to wider social pressures facing young people.
He described drug abuse as a serious challenge and argued that sport can offer boys and girls a constructive path, whether or not they reach elite level.
“We are not going to get everyone to play for the national team but we want to build a gentleman out there.
“Through cricket you can make it in life, you might not make it as a player, but you can make it as a coach, as an umpire, as an administrator, ”Mankunzini said.
He also said Cricket Ekaya Ekasi runs compulsory awareness sessions on anti-doping and life skills during its visits, and has partnered with the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee to strengthen that work.
As Zimbabwe prepares to co-host the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup with South Africa and Namibia, Mankunzini believes rural communities could produce the country’s next cricket stars.
“Cricket may be new to some of these communities, but the talent is there.
“Our job is to give young people the opportunity, guidance and resources to turn that potential into success, ”he said.
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