Mukuhlani’s shocking meltdown a reflection of crisis-hit Zimbabwean cricket

BY TINO MOMBESHORA

HARARE – It’s Friday, 15 August 2025, and Harare Sports Club’s VIP enclosure is packed with journalists who have been cordially invited to attend a press conference called by the long-standing chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), Tavengwa Mukuhlani.

I followed proceedings online from my studio, as the event was livestreamed.

As the journalists collected their water bottles, and settled in with their various recording devices, it would only be a matter of time before the real reason behind the calling of the press conference would come to light.

Everybody knew what was at the core of this gathering, but polite conversation was made, with the chairman once again boasting about his efforts at the helm, as he dragged ZC’s debts out of the red and into the green.

He also explained that playing against the higher ranked Test nations was something that needed to happen, and that ZC were in favour of a two-test tier system.

And then the inevitable happened.

Up to that point, Mukuhlani had been speaking in a quiet, relaxed but confident tone as he assured the throng of journalists that everything was okay, and that ZC are hard at work in revisiting certain areas of the game, when once again the team had disgraced itself in spectacular fashion.

One freelance journalist, a fierce loyalist of the current regime at ZC, asked Mukuhlani to respond to Bulawayo mayor and former Sports Minister David Coltart, who has consistently expressed concerns over Zimbabwe’s selection policies.

Mukuhlani, who up to that point had answered every question stoically, and with assurance, underwent a transformation as he launched a savage attack on Coltart.

His voice, which had been calm and collective, changed to a high-pitched shriek, not too dissimilar to that of a vulture swooping down on its prey, or a hyena yipping and giggling as it closes in on its normally defenseless prey.

The normally relaxed demeanour changed to a picture of barely suppressed anger, with lips twitching and quivering as he desperately fought for control with had now deserted him.

The man behind the mask had been revealed, and like so many people who feel threatened by the truth, Mukuhlani didn’t hold back as he degraded, demeaned and trash-talked Coltart.

The arrogance and hostility radiated from him in palpable waves, and the audience in the gallery sat on, and listened in muted shock at this clear lack of professionalism.

But why then should we be so shocked?

Why should we still act with surprise as an unprofessional organisation acts in such a disgraceful manner?

They allow the Takashinga Cricket Club’s social media accounts to say the most inflammatory statements about mostly white players, and ZC sit back and ignore these horrendous statements being made by a known somebody close to the chairman.

For his part, Mukuhlani batted smartly, saying that when they were “told” to ask players such as Hamilton Masakadza, Prosper Utseya, Elton Chigumbura and Chamu Chibhabha to retire, they did as they were told.

“We bought Dave Houghton back, we brought BT (Brendan Taylor) and (Kyle) Jarvis back and had to match their salaries,” he shrieked, lips quivering and hands gesticulating.

But if the likes of Elton Chigumbura and David Mutendera are still pulling strings and issuing commands, how will this cricketing nation ever find consistency in anything they do from results both on and off the pitch?

Fellow Zimbabweans have voiced very strong support in favour of Coltart’s concerns, as the fans themselves have those very same concerns.

Why is it that certain sectors of Zimbabwean cricket are so very quick to reach for the race card, not the horse-racing card which you would find at Borrowdale Park, but the human race card?

In a round-about way, the chairman acknowledged that his predecessors had pillaged and plundered funds from a once vibrant sport, and that under his watch ZC no longer owe their debtors a single cent. But Zimbabwean cricket is still a very long way from being run by an approachable and professional team of administrators.

*Tino Mombeshora is a writer, graphic artist and sports fan.