The Sunday News
BODYBUILDERS to represent Bulawayo at the Mr Zimbabwe finals in Harare on Saturday were selected yesterday afternoon with Lovemore Munyamana coming out tops in the men’s senior category.
Munyamana will travel to Harare together with Mike Alimu and Domingo Lunga, who came second and third respectively. The other two contestants that were part of the men’s line-up were Peter Wenceslaus and Mavhutho Mbwanari.
In the juniors section there were two bodybuilders, Delvin Page, who took first position and Courage Ganyiwa who came second but both will travel to Harare as the National Association of Bodybuilding and Fitness in Zimbabwe sought three provincial representatives in each category.
In the ladies section, Diana Machakaire scooped the top prize ahead of Chantelle Smith. Both will also be travelling to Harare for the Miss Zimbabwe finals. The contest was held at the newly opened Bodyworks Gym and was attended by a full house. The competition was the first bodybuilding event held in the city this year.
Munyamana was glad to walk away with the top award and said he is ready to take on other bodybuilders at the national contest in Harare.
“I am ready to go and compete against the best in the country. I believe all the contestants from Bulawayo can hold their own despite not doing well in previous competitions. I just think we need to prepare well and we can come up with good results in Harare,” he said.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Bodybuilding and Fitness Association chairman John Mhangwa said he was happy with the turnout since they were hosting the first competition this year.
“There was no executive and it was only assembled three weeks ago but I am glad we managed to organise this competition allowing the province to send representatives to Mr Zimbabwe. I feel the level of competition is good and our athletes can attain respectable positions in Harare,” he said.
Bodyworks manager Don Ashborne said they were pleased with the level of competition exhibited by the athletes and the huge turnout by the audience.
“The turnout was great and I think it is a challenge to the bodybuilding authorities to organise more competitions and attract more athletes to take part in the sport. We were happy to chip in with the venue and would in future also be available to assist,” he said.
The judges were BMBFA organising secretary, Simon Gama, vice-chairman, Thompson Mpala and Tshaka Gym chairman, Peter Rugaro. BMBFA Marko Mwale announced the provincial association will assist the athletes with entry fees for the national competition.
NABFZ spokesperson, Quiet Shangai said Mr Zimbabwe will be held at the Harare International School on Saturday adding senior men will battle it out in the under 70kg, under 80kg, under 90kg and over 90kg categories.
There will be a separate section for under-21 years juniors and there will also be Mr Fitness Physique. Ladies will square off in the main Miss Zimbabwe, fitness figure and ladies bikini. There would be an exhibition show by disabled bodybuilders.
“We are glad to have secured a number of sponsors who are partnering us this year and among them are National Foods, Crystal Candy, Kutaura, Nutritech, P Shar, Karibadrill, Wang Yakubu, Brian Mussa Evox and Timothy Nkomo,” he said.
