Plucked from rural Chirumhanzu to race for Zim on ...

Plucked from rural Chirumhanzu to race for Zim on global stage: The inspiring story of Leeford Zuze

Patience Muchemwa

Zim Now Reporter

A 23-year-old national team athlete, Leeford “Monya” Zuze, from the deep rural areas of Chirumhanzu, has overcome all odds to represent Zimbabwe on the international stage.

Despite his humble beginnings, running barefoot from high school, Zuze's remarkable journey is an inspiration to many.

“I grew up in Chirumhanzu, I attended my high school education at Mapiravana Secondary School.”

Zuze’s talent was first recognised by B Mawire, the owner of Raising Stars Athletics Club in Chirumhanzu, who sponsored him to compete at higher levels. His hard work and determination caught the attention of Zimbabwe’s athletics captain Gerren Muwishi, who invited him to join the MWC Sports.

The unwavering support from Mawire demonstrates a genuine commitment to nurturing Zimbabwean talent. Even after Zuze joined the Harare-based MWC Sports, Mawire's decision to continue sponsoring him showcases his dedication to Zuze’s success.

“Mawire sponsors most of my away races, we don’t have electronic time in the country so most of the time we compete in the neighbouring countries such as Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa among other countries.”

Mawire’s belief in Zuze’s potential serves as an inspiration for other young athletes in Zimbabwe. With this ongoing support, Zuze is likely to remain motivated and focused on excelling in his athletics career, representing Zimbabwe on the international stage and achieving his goals.

The 400m sprinter Zuze, in 2023, competed for electronic time in Botswana and clocked 48:12. From there, he trained hard and improved to 46:13 in South Africa early this year. He repeated the same PB in Ndola, Zambia, and qualified to represent the country at the Africa Games in Accra, Ghana.

Zuze’s unwavering dedication to his athletic career is evident in his commitment to balancing work and training. To raise money for transport to attend training sessions, Zuze works at his brother’s shop during the day.

His ability to manage his time effectively showcases a strong work ethic and determination to overcome any obstacles in his path.

By finding a way to support his athletics journey while contributing to his family’s business, Zuze serves as an inspiration to others, demonstrating that passion and perseverance can help one find creative solutions to life’s challenges.

Despite Mawire’s continuous support, there are times when the financial burden becomes challenging, and Zuze must seek additional sponsors to cover his expenses.

“Mawire has a family to look after and also to lift young athlete from Raising Star. He also faces some financial challenges. Recently, I wanted to go and compete electronic time race in Zambia, but I failed, but he promised to provide for the upcoming race in South Africa.”

With ambitions to compete internationally and run electronic times in neighboring countries, Zuze requires further financial assistance to make these goals a reality.

Recognising the need for collaboration, Zuze is looking for a sponsor who can work together with Mawire to provide the necessary resources for his athletic journey. By welcoming the support of another sponsor, Zuze aims to strengthen his financial backing and create new opportunities to showcase his talent, ultimately benefiting Zimbabwe’s athletics scene and inspiring a new generation of athletes.

He believes that with enough training time and resources, he can achieve his goal and represent Zimbabwe on the world stage. Zuze’s strong determination inspires those around him and proves that dedication and support can make dreams come true.

“I believe that if I get enough resources and enough time to train like other, I will definitely clock the 45:00, which is needed to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.”

For 2023 and 2024 season, only Zuze managed to get a trophy and ten medals, which proved that he could achieve his dreams of qualifying for the Olympics.

Zuze advised other upcoming athletes to work extra hard to be able to represent the country at higher level events such as the All Africa Games.

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

From traversing the rustic terrain of Chirumhanzu without footwear to proudly donning Zimbabwe’s colours at the Africa Games held in Accra, Ghana, Leeford “Monya” Zuze’s narrative epitomises his exceptional skill and steadfast determination.