By Staff Reporter
HARARE— State-owned telecommunications firm NetOne has reaffirmed its support for the 2026 President’s Cup, positioning the tournament as a strategic platform for advancing national development, unity and youth empowerment.
The President’s Cup 2026 is scheduled to bring together professional, amateur and junior players, with the professional tournament set for 14 to 16 April, followed by the main President’s Cup event on 17 April at the Bulawayo Country Club.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday ahead of the event, NetOne chief executive officer Raphael Mushanawani said the company’s partnership with the tournament, held under the patronage of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, reflects its broader commitment to aligning corporate activity with national priorities.
Mushanawani said the President’s Cup extends beyond sport, describing it as a convergence point for business, leadership and development.
“This tournament is more than golf. It is a demonstration of leadership, vision, and collaboration, a platform where sport, business, and development converge,” he said.
The President’s Cup 2026 is among several government-supported sporting initiatives designed to leverage sport as a vehicle for socio-economic transformation, including youth development and social cohesion.
Mushanawani and commended government efforts to promote sport as a tool for national progress.
He said NetOne’s participation is aligned with its corporate strategy to support national development through expanded digital connectivity and community-focused programmes.
“As a company, we are committed to connecting communities, empowering citizens, and driving innovation in line with the country’s development agenda,” he said.
NetOne also used the platform to underscore its evolving role beyond telecommunications service provision, highlighting its contribution to broader economic and social transformation.
The tournament is expected to attract stakeholders from government, business and the sporting fraternity, with organisers projecting it as a flagship event on Zimbabwe’s sporting calendar.
NetOne General Manager of Financial Services Joseph Machiva, reinforced the company’s long-term commitment to the initiative.
He said the partnership aligns with NetOne’s corporate interests while supporting government-led development goals.
“From a corporate standpoint, our association with golf opens up a lot of doors for us in terms of the things that we can get into from a corporate point of view.
“As NetOne, we have a very clear and deliberate intention to support government initiatives and also to support sport in general, beyond golf,” he said.
Pressed on the sustainability of the partnership, Machiva affirmed NetOne’s continued involvement.
“We are here for the long haul,” he said.
The statement was accompanied by a $50,000 sponsorship cheque presented to the Deputy Minister, signalling tangible investment in the tournament’s second edition.
Zimbabwe’s golfing fraternity, represented by Akil Yousuf, president of the Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association, welcomed NetOne’s renewed engagement, describing the partnership as both historic and forward-looking.
“NetOne is the long-standing partner of ZPGA.
“We have had many fruitful years together, and this is a pickup after a slight break.
We look forward to garnering and fostering stronger ties with NetOne,” he said.
Yousuf said the tournament is expected to be staged on a significant scale.
“I don’t think NetOne does anything in half measures.
“This tournament is going to be on a large scale.
“Rest assured it is a high-flag tournament,” he added.
He also highlighted the inclusion of a junior championship alongside the main event, describing it as part of a broader developmental framework linking professionals, amateurs and emerging talent.
“We start with the professionals, we feed the seniors, then we go to the juniors as well.
“Watch the space,” he said.
The President’s Cup will also serve as a platform for talent identification and development, with Zimbabwe’s recent performances in regional competitions cited as evidence of a growing pipeline.
Yousuf referenced the country’s fifth-place finish at the All-Africa Junior Team Championship in Kenya, where the majority of the squad were debutants, as well as gold medal performances at the Africa Youth Games in Angola.
He noted that structures are already in place to support progression from grassroots to professional levels, including training programmes facilitated through the Golf Association of Zimbabwe.
“The pipeline and pathway that the Deputy Minister spoke about is quite rich,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Emily Jesaya emphasized government efforts to expand access to golf at school level while acknowledging the financial barriers associated with equipment.
“We are very cautious and very inclusive in terms of development,”
“We have schools that have already taken golf as a sport, which young people are already practising and learning.
“We even have amateur golfers in primary schools whom we are also supporting as a ministry,” she said.
However, she highlighted the need for increased corporate support.
“The golf kits that are needed for golfers are quite expensive.
We are appealing to the corporate world to partner with the Golf Association of Zimbabwe so that they are able to procure those resources to give, especially, to our young people from the rural areas,” she said.
Jesaya’s remarks aligned with broader efforts to democratize access to golf, a sport traditionally perceived as exclusive.
NetOne’s partnership with the event underscores a growing trend of corporate participation in sport as a vehicle for development, with stakeholders presenting the tournament not only as a competition, but as a catalyst for investment, inclusion and national progress.
