Chimanimani, Zimbabwe — Trust Makanidzani’s golf practice session with his friends was abruptly interrupted by a howling wind and a heavy downpour that thundered against the rooftops of Chimanimani Golf Course in eastern Zimbabwe. The rain, which began the night before, continued throughout the day and was expected to last for several more days. The relentless wind and rain reminded the 20‑year‑old of the horror he endured in March 2019 when Cyclone Idai made landfall. His anxiety deepened after the government issued a warning that Zimbabwe lay in the path of Cyclone Freddy, whose massive destruction had already been felt in neighboring Mozambique and Madagascar. Freddy, a long‑lasting tropical storm, later devastated Malawi in March, claiming more than 430 lives, according to officials, and causing at least 600 deaths regionally. Experts attribute the increasing severity of such storms to climate change.
Makanidzani recalls the night Cyclone Idai struck his village. “Heavy rains started on Wednesday. I had just returned from Mutare. The rains didn’t stop. Most people thought nothing unusual was happening,” he told IPS, recalling that he was 16 at the time. By Friday the rains intensified, and some friends sought shelter in his room after their homes flooded. “We were five in the room. As we were about to sleep, there was a bang outside,” he said, describing how a landslide washed away his house and dragged him for about a kilometre. When he regained consciousness, he was covered in mud and twigs on a riverbank, alone. Using lightning as a guide, he made his way to a nearby house for shelter, feeling nervous and on the verge of tears. After drinking a hot cup of tea, he collapsed and later awoke in Chimanimani Hospital, where doctors discovered a severe head injury and broken legs and arms. He also learned that his three friends had not survived the storm.
Cyclone Idai battered eastern Zimbabwe, including Chipinge and Chimanimani districts in Manicaland Province, from 15 to 17 March 2019, affecting roughly 270,000 people. Floods and landslides claimed 340 lives, left many missing, and displaced about 51,000 people. The World Bank estimates the damage in Zimbabwe at USD 622 million. Before the cyclone, Makanidzani had been playing golf since 2012 with Matsetso Stars Sport to Conservation and was a top junior golfer aspiring to a professional career representing Zimbabwe regionally and internationally. After being transferred to Chipinge Hospital and later spending six months at a facility 150 km away in Mutare, he returned to golf upon discharge, competing in tournaments in Mutare and Harare. The COVID‑19 pandemic later disrupted his progress, cancelling the Junior Golf Challenge and the Toyota World Junior Championship in 2021. Although he was slated to join Zimbabwe’s 12‑member squad, he now competes as an amateur.
In Zimbabwe, golf is often perceived as an elite sport, making it rare for young people from remote areas like Chimanimani to excel. Yet some Matsetso Stars junior golfers have broken that mold. Sixteen‑year‑old Vincent Chidambazina, for example, traveled to Lukasa, Zambia, to compete—his first time on an airplane and even before he had a passport. He has played in tournaments across the country, including Harare and Bulawayo, and says, “It feels good to rub shoulders with the elite and to play better than them. I thought I could not make it because I’m from a rural area, but here I am, one of the top juniors.” His family’s home survived Idai, though many neighbours’ houses were destroyed.
Both Makanidzani and Chidambazina cite funding shortages as a major obstacle. “I can’t travel to other cities for tournaments because I lack funds. This is a huge setback because without playing I don’t earn points,” Makanidzani said. Chidambazina added that they lack essential equipment such as balls, clubs, and ball markers, and that his family’s support is limited by financial constraints.
Jane Lindsay High, founder of Matsetso Stars Sport to Conservation in 2010, created the program to give children in the poorest parts of Chimanimani access to sports facilities, qualified coaches, and resources. “We rely on donor funding, which is never a sustainable development model,” she explained, noting the absence of trusted political leadership at the community level. Since its inception, the program has introduced about 100 children to golf; roughly 17 have represented Manicaland at the provincial level and two at the national level.
Professional golfers such as Robson Chinhoi and Biggie Chibvuri now earn a living from the sport in Zimbabwe. “Golf offers many opportunities, including scholarships. Both golf and education are keys to success,” says Amos Kunyerezera, a longtime coach with Matsetso Stars Sport to Conservation, who began his career at a hotel in the Vumba Mountains on the Zimbabwe‑Mozambique border. Martin Chikwanha, president of the Zimbabwe Golf Association, acknowledges that funding for golf—and sport in general—has suffered due to the country’s economic challenges. “Most golf activities are funded by the Zimbabwe Golf Association or the Zimbabwe Junior Golf Association, through membership fees and international partners. We receive no government funding,” he said.
Chikwanha described a program that provides financial support to junior golfers from areas like Chimanimani, enabling them to compete in national, regional, and international tournaments. The “train the trainer” initiative aims to spread golf to rural areas and uncover talent across the country. However, he noted the logistical difficulty: “Once a talent is discovered, they need a golf course to play on. Kids in places like Buhera must travel to the nearest course in Mutare, which requires substantial funding.” Unlike football, which is ubiquitous, golf courses are limited, and equipment costs add another financial barrier. “Golf is not an elite sport; it is open to everyone,” Chikwanha affirmed.
Clad in black trousers and a white sweater, Makanidzani hopes to travel across Africa and beyond, representing Zimbabwe. “My wish is to secure sponsorship so I can continue as an amateur and eventually become a professional playing at the international level,” he said.
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