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Lack of Passports Threatens Zimbabwe’s COSASA Games Participation
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Zimbabwe’s budding sporting talent now faces an urgent challenge ahead of the 2025 Confederation of School Sports Associations of Southern Africa (COSASA) games in Eswatini. A significant number of the country’s young gold medallists, emerging from the recent National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) games in Bindura, remain without passports—a critical travel document for international competition. Fewer than 40 out of more than 63 medal winners possess the necessary documents, casting serious doubts over Zimbabwe’s ability to field its top athletes at the event.
NASH Mashonaland Central Provincial Chairperson, Charlce Chiguware, has issued a call to action urging NASH chairpersons across all provinces, as well as parents and schools, to assist the affected athletes in securing passports. “We urge all stakeholders to work together to ensure our young sportspeople obtain the required travel documents in time,” Chiguware stated. He added that participation in the COSASA games is viewed as a vital opportunity for these athletes to gain international exposure and build valuable experience.
The COSASA games are regarded as one of Southern Africa’s premier sporting events, drawing the continent’s most talented youth to compete on an international stage. High jump gold medallist Blessmore Sibanda expressed optimism about the upcoming competition: “We are excited about the opportunity to represent Zimbabwe at the COSASA games. We are working diligently to ensure we make our country proud.” Similarly, track gold medallist Nothando Zifodya shared her confidence, remarking, “I am confident that by August, every one of us will have our passports, and we will compete as a united team.”
This ongoing passport crisis has prompted urgent discussions among sports authorities and community leaders about streamlining administrative processes. As the countdown to the COSASA games begins, the success of Zimbabwe’s participation will largely depend on the collective support from schools, government bodies, and local sports organisations to overcome these bureaucratic hurdles.
