President Mnangagwa has officially launched the US$25 million ZIFA Munhumutapa Cup at the Celebration Centre.
The tournament is will run for five years, with US$5 million allocated per season.
The Munhumutapa Cup will feature Premiership clubs, lower Division sides, Area Zones and organised social teams.
Junior teams will also be included.
The senior men’s champions will earn the right to represent Zimbabwe in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The glittering launch brought together government leadership, football stakeholders, corporate partners and invited guests for an evening that signalled a clear intent: Zimbabwe’s football journey is entering a new chapter of growth, professionalism and opportunity.
His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa commended football’s ability to inspire national pride while urging stakeholders to seize the moment and build a stronger game from grassroots to elite level.
“This competition is more than a trophy; it is an investment in our young people, our communities and the future of Zimbabwean sport,” President Mnangagwa said.
“Let it widen opportunity, strengthen unity, and lift standards across our football ecosystem.”
The ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup backed by a total sponsorship package of USD5 million per season is the largest single-season investment ever committed to a cup competition in Zimbabwean football.
Beyond prize money, the tournament is designed as a catalyst for broader development: improving club competitiveness, expanding pathways for talent discovery, strengthening administration, and increasing visibility for teams and communities across the country.
ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi described the launch as a landmark moment in the Association’s renewal agenda and a clear demonstration that Zimbabwe football is ready to move forward with purpose.
“Tonight is a declaration of intent,” Magwizi said. “The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup represents progress, structure and opportunity.
“It is a competition that will energise the entire domestic game – from our biggest clubs to emerging communities – and it marks the beginning of a new era of football development in Zimbabwe.”
Magwizi also expressed the Association’s deep appreciation for the support ZIFA received from His Excellency during the Warriors’ AFCON 2025 campaign in Morocco, noting that the President’s backing helped lift morale and reinforce the importance of national teams as a unifying symbol.
“We remain sincerely grateful for the encouragement and support rendered during AFCON 2025 in Morocco,” Magwizi added.
“That support strengthened the team and inspired the nation. This tournament now extends that belief into our domestic football landscape, ensuring that development is not a slogan but a lived reality.”
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup is expected to draw participation and attention from across Zimbabwe’s football pyramid, reinforcing the idea that talent and possibility are not confined to a handful of elite spaces, but are present in communities, growth points and grassroots centres throughout the country.
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