President Mugabe hands boxer Manyuchi $50 000

President Mugabe and boxer Manyuchi

HARARE – President Robert Mugabe yesterday made light work of the criticism his government has faced over its neglect of successful boxer – Charles Manyuchi – when he handed over $50 000 cash reward to the pugilist who successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title earlier this month. 

Mugabe and his cabinet, prior to Manyuchi’s victory in Italy two weeks ago, had been slammed for doing little to motivate and reward the young Zimbabwean boxer who is based in Zambia, after failing to get sponsorship on home soil.

The Mutoko-born boxer is treated like a Zambian and our northern neighbour has tried, before yesterday’s honour, to persuade Manyuchi to change his citizenship.

Manyuchi successfully defended his WBC title when he stopped Italian Gianluca Freeza in Venice via a technical knockout in the sixth round a fortnight ago.

But yesterday the Zimbabwean nonagenarian leader lived up to his promise from last week to hold a luncheon for Manyuchi at the State House.

“Keep on flying our flag high, we are very proud of you Manyuchi as Zimbabwe,” Mugabe said. “Charles’s victory is not for him only but is for Zimbabwe, SADC and Africa as a whole.

“I wish to recognise the role played by Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions from Zambia. It is difficult to achieve a prize in the area of boxing, boxing it’s much harder unlike football, basketball and other team sport where you assist each other as a team.

“In boxing you must know how to throw your punches and also need to study the tactics of your opponent,” said the President. Dailynews