Marondera to host Zimbabwe National Youth and Paralympic Games

Marondera is prepared to host the Zimbabwe National Youth and Paralympic Games in the Mashonaland East Province. The youth games are scheduled to run from August 13 to August 18, 2026, while the Paralympic Games will take place from August 20 to August 26, 2026.

Jack Makate, the Mashonaland East provincial national youth games chief executive officer, confirmed that all ten provinces have committed to participating. Teams from Mashonaland Central have already arrived in Marondera, with Masvingo, Bulawayo, and Matabeleland South expected to arrive shortly. Organisers anticipate that all provincial teams will be present in the host town by midnight.

Preparations for the event include the inspection of nine designated venues. Makate noted that the provincial national youth games chief executive officer received support from the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East, Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, to help navigate challenges during the planning process.

These games mark a return to the competition after they were previously banned during the Covid-19 era. The 2026 edition is being held under the theme, “Breaking the silence through sport.”

Makate has called on the public to attend the events to support the young athletes. He stated that the games serve as a way to encourage youth to avoid drug abuse, substance abuse, and gender-based violence by focusing on their potential through sport.