HARARE, Zimbabwe — U.S.-based Olympian Tapiwanashe Makarawu headlines Zimbabwe’s nominees for the 2024 Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA), after being shortlisted in two major categories ahead of the ceremony set for May 24 in Harare.
The 24-year-old sprinter is nominated for both Sportsman of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year, following a landmark season in which he became the first Zimbabwean to reach the men’s 200m final at the Olympic Games. He finished sixth in the Paris final and earlier this year won both top honors at Zimbabwe’s Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA).
Makarawu also claimed a silver medal at the African Senior Championships in Cameroon and posted a series of sub-21-second times across the U.S. collegiate circuit.
Joining Makarawu on the RASA shortlist is fellow U.S.-based sprinter Makanakaishe Charamba, who shared the Olympic 200m final spotlight in a historic showing for Zimbabwean athletics.
Other Zimbabwean finalists include emerging cricketer Kellis Ndhlovu, nominated for Junior Sportswoman of the Year. Ndhlovu helped the Lady Chevrons to a gold medal at the 13th African Games in Ghana, where she was named Player of the Series. She later broke into the ICC’s top 20 all-rounders and swept both junior categories at ANSA.
Sables rugby coach Pieter Benade, the reigning ANSA Coach of the Year, is also in contention for the regional Coach of the Year award after guiding Zimbabwe to the 2023 Rugby Africa Cup title in Uganda—ending a 12-year drought.
Zimpapers Sports Hub journalist Ellina Mhlanga was nominated for Sports Journalist of the Year, rounding out Zimbabwe’s strong showing across five of the 10 RASA categories.
The awards, organized by the African Union Sports Council Region 5, recognize outstanding sporting achievements across Southern Africa. This year marks the first time Zimbabwe will host the event, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa expected to officiate.
Zimbabwe’s 2024 RASA nominees:
- Sportsperson of the Year: Tapiwanashe Makarawu
- Sportsman of the Year: Tapiwanashe Makarawu
- Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Kellis Ndhlovu
- Coach of the Year: Pieter Benade
- Sports Journalist of the Year: Ellina Mhlanga