By Goodwill Zunidza
In the course of his international undertakings, conducting high-level coaching courses on behalf of World Rugby (WR), veteran mentor Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa learnt of an even more important task waiting for him back home.
This was through a call from Nathaniel Madzivanyika, the Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) chairman – who it appears is quite an enlightened leader – appointing the celebrated tactician on the Interim Management Committee to run the affairs of the sacked Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU).
Murambiwa would be the technical expert on the envisaged five-member committee also containing individuals with legitimate credentials in the legal and corporate sectors.
For Murambiwa, who had no hesitation to accept, it was practically hopping from one World Rugby assignment to the next.
The entire intervention by SRC, for once, had the active endorsement of the sport code’s international governing body.
Losson Mtongwiza, the suspended ZRU president, alleged that nefarious individuals with hidden political agendas had hijacked the union by manipulating outdated constitutional clauses due for amendment to take positions in moribund provincial structures for the sole purpose of creating mayhem in the game.
Madzivanyika cited the problems that had beset local rugby, especially since the Sables’ qualification for the 2027 World Cup when vultures started circling, as the SRC’s principal motivation to step in.
The SRC boss acknowledged WR’s encouragement.
“World Rugby and Rugby Africa (RA) are fully engaged in this process. Herbert Mensah (RA president) wrote to the SRC and provided a set of recommendations that included among them dissolution of the ZRU board,” revealed Madzivanyika.
The four other members now involved on the IMC committee are investment executive Paddy Zhanda (Jnr), who is chairman; banker Latifa Kassim; marketing professional Gareth Crabbe (also a sportsperson in his own right); and lawyer Wellington Magaya.
Murambiwa, the first Zimbabwe Sables gaffer ever to defeat bogey side Namibia in a Test match, is ready to execute his mission.
“My role will be to ensure all technical matters per the new WR statutes are online and that the Sables are prepared for the huge undertaking in 2027 but importantly now as countdown has started,” he tells New Ziana.
“Mine is also insure that the technical team is energised to stay abreast of modern training trends as well as aligning all national teams to the Sables going forward.”
As a career rugby personality, Murambiwa admits the Sables’ success to reach the World Cup despite glaring inactivity in the domestic league was miraculous.
“Rugby at the moment lacks proper game time locally. We need a local league to ensure our local players are playing enough rugby to align with coaches’ requirements.”
A conversion specialist during his youth with Prince Edward Tigers and Old Hararians, Murambiwa promises immediate action on the field of play.
“Since an ideal situation is players playing at least 15/20 competitive games a year to be prepared for rigorous demands at the 2027 World Cup, we are essentially looking at a quarter of that before year end to launch our campaign successfully.”
SRC, however, did not outline the period of service for the IMC members.
“The IMC is a transitional measure,” Madzivanyika stated.
“Its tenure will last only until fresh elections are held in line with the ZRU constitution.”
The constitutional review exercise itself will be undertaken by the IMC whom the SRC also charged with the mandate of “ensuring smooth preparations for the 2027 World Cup” which be hosted by Australia.
New Ziana
