New Sports and Recreation Commission Board Appointed Amid Calls for Reform

Zimbabwe’s new Sports and Recreation Commission board, led by Dr. Nathaniel Madzivanyika (image source)

The Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Honourable Lt-Gen (Rtd) A.N. Sanyatwe, has appointed an eight-member board to govern the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) for a four-year term running from July 2025 to July 2029, signalling a fresh leadership phase for the country’s sporting regulator and renewed expectations for governance and development in the sector.

The board is chaired by Dr. Nathaniel Madzivanyika, with Shingai J. Rhuhwaya named vice-chairperson. The full membership list includes Givemore Madzoka, Hlengiwe Dube, Gwinyai Tamuka, Mharapara David Simba, Lilian Ndandatsei, Silby Chikara, and Valentine Siabe, among others detailed in the ministry notice and subsequent media reports.

Government statements framing the appointments emphasise compliance with the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act and the Sports and Recreation Commission Act, which prescribe the composition and selection process for SRC boards. Officials say the new body is expected to prioritise transparency, fiscal discipline, and the acceleration of grassroots talent development ahead of major continental and global competitions.

Sports stakeholders have welcomed the clarity of the appointments but warned that names on paper must translate into tangible reforms. Athletes’ unions, provincial associations, and former administrators told reporters they want the board to tackle longstanding problems: delayed funding disbursements, irregular competition calendars, inadequate facilities, and weak athlete support systems that have undermined performance and participation at youth level.

Dr. Madzivanyika, a seasoned educationist and sports administrator with experience in provincial games and school sports development, inherits a portfolio that must balance elite performance with mass participation and commercial sustainability. Observers say his leadership will be judged on three early deliverables: the publication of an SRC strategic plan with measurable targets, an audited account of commission finances, and a clear calendar of national competitions that restores confidence among clubs and provinces.

The ministerial appointment also raises governance questions that the board cannot ignore: how to insulate the SRC from politicised decision-making, how to professionalise secretariat functions, and how to attract private-sector sponsorship while protecting the interests of athletes. Civil-society groups and sports federations say the board should proactively publish conflict-of-interest declarations and open procurement processes to rebuild trust after a period of administrative uncertainty.

With Zimbabwe preparing for multiple regional qualifiers and youth development cycles, the SRC’s renewed leadership arrives at a critical moment. If the new board can move rapidly from appointments to accountable action, it has the potential to stabilise funding flows, reinvigorate talent pathways, and create a more predictable environment for athletes and administrators alike.