From UZ to Rural Roots: Elijah Tapatapa Leads Spor...

From UZ to Rural Roots: Elijah Tapatapa Leads Sports Revival in Makoni North

Patience Muchemwa- Senior Reporter

In the remote yet spirited district of Makoni North, one man is transforming the sporting landscape — and he's doing it with the same dedication and energy he gave during his 40-year tenure at the University of Zimbabwe.

Elijah Tapatapa, a veteran athletics coach and administrator, is breathing new life into rural sport, inspiring youths and elders alike.

On August 1, the Chikore area in Makoni North came alive with a vibrant blend of sport, community empowerment, and celebration. The event, organised by the Makoni North Progressive Association, was a powerful display of what rural communities can achieve with the right leadership — and at the centre of it was Tapatapa.

Although he serves as the Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee responsible for publicity, Tapatapa stepped in as Event Director on the day.

“We had a road run/walk in the Chikore area of Makoni North, where our local rural community took part,” he said in an interview with Zim Now. “We started with a Friday clean-up campaign, then had races for all age groups — from children to senior citizens. We held 10 km races for under-20s and open categories, 5 km for seniors, and a walk race for the elderly. Afterwards, people were treated to netball and football matches and a live band for entertainment.”

Health and wellness weren’t the only priorities. Tapatapa and his team also facilitated presentations on mental health, drug abuse, and community responsibility — all part of a broader mission to reshape rural youth futures.

With decades of experience under his belt, Tapatapa is no stranger to sport development. He served on the Athletics Board at the University of Zimbabwe, worked as the National Event Coach for Throws, and was Coaching Coordinator for Mashonaland East.

“We held workshops and trained teachers in different courses. I took that experience and brought it here to Makoni,” he said. “Sometimes, we trained in areas without proper grounds or equipment — we improvised, and from that, we developed quality athletes.”

Tapatapa was also Secretary General of the Harare Athletics Board, where he helped draft the board’s constitution and facilitated athletics development in seven districts, in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

Following his retirement from UZ in 2023, he returned to his rural home in Makoni with a vision:

“I realised that with the knowledge I have in sport, I could do something meaningful here. Through MANOPA, we aim to keep people fit and unlock mindsets.”

The choice of Chikore for the August 1 event was strategic. It's the farthest point in Makoni North, bordered by Mutoko (north), Nyanga North (east), and Mwarazi (southeast) — areas divided by rivers like Nyagadze, Nyamombe, and Mwarazi.

“We are in a remote part of Makoni. The idea is to develop talent from the roots, because most talent scouting happens in urban areas,” Tapatapa explained. “Our goals are to promote health through physical activity, fight drug and substance abuse, and reduce rural-to-urban migration.”

Tapatapa believes in creating sustainable opportunities that allow youth to thrive where they are:

“Many youths leave after O’Level for the city, but if we can bring opportunities here — football, entrepreneurship, coaching — we show them they can build a future right here.”

The event was a resounding success, graced by artists Solo Moyo and Ranga Sagombeto. Tapatapa is also actively coaching athletics at Chikore Secondary School and mentoring teachers to become skilled coaches and advisors.

“I’m mobilising my children and their friends to help sponsor these events,” he shared. “I will never drop sport. Like NAAZ President Tendai Tagara always says, ‘You can take me out of sport, but you can’t take sport out of me.’”

With future plans to bring in legendary athletes and footballers for mentorship and talent identification, Tapatapa’s mission is just getting started.