Gwanda mayor Thulani Moyo has launched a boxing tournament designed to promote discipline and opportunity among the city’s youth in a bid to fight drug abuse and social ills.
The Mayor’s Boxing Tournament, initiated in 2025 aims to formally expand into local schools this year.
Moyo told Southern Eye Sport that the early uptake in schools is very encouraging, with more young people beginning to benefit financially from the sport.
“I launched the mayor’s boxing tournament with the aim of fighting drug abuse, littering, and gender-based violence because this sporting discipline encourages discipline,” Moyo said.
“Historical boxers are disciplined people; they have belts and know that if they go around fighting people, they will be in trouble with the law.”
The launch event, which targeted two secondary schools, featured demonstrations by professional boxers.
Moyo highlighted the success of Gwanda-born boxer Monika Mkandla, who has made history for the province in major tournaments.
He also shared that another local boxer’s award-winning performance at a tournament in Gwanda caught the attention of Tourism and Hospitality Industry deputy ministerTongai Mnangagwa.
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Mnangagwa subsequently recommended the boxer become a national tourism ambassador.
“The boy has been adopted by the ministry of tourism and will benefit from this arrangement financially, while also putting Gwanda city in the limelight,” Moyo added.
The mayor encouraged youths not drawn to mainstream sports like soccer to consider disciplines such as boxing to earn a living and stay focused.
“This is a way of fighting drug and substance abuse, littering, and gender-based violence,” Moyo added, framing the initiative as a holistic approach to youth development and social welfare.
The country is witnessing widespread drug and substance abuse among mainly youth frustrated by the harsh economic climate where jobs are scarce.
Reports have shown that new admissions at mental health institutions are drug abusers, mostly teenagers.
.President Emmerson Mnangagwa has also called for stiffer penalties against drug abusers and cartels supplying the intoxicants.
