Zhanda, Chifokoyo represent Zim at landmark Rugby Africa AGM

BY SPORTSCAST WRITER

HARARE – Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) interim committee chairman Paddy Zhanda Jr and the association’s new General Manager TJ Chifokoyo (pictured) are representing Zimbabwe at a landmark Rugby Africa AGM in Uganda on Friday, the first following the Southern African nation’s historic return to the World Cup since 1991.

 It is Rugby Africa’s biggest meeting in the history of the confederation, which is undergoing marked transformation under the leadership of reformist and Ghanaian Herbert Mensah, the first non-Francophone head of the confederation in its 40-year history.

A raft of changes to the continental governing body’s constitution are expected to be voted for by 32 leaders of member nations of Rugby Africa that have converged in Ugandan capital Kampala.

The 17^th General Assembly of Rugby Africa, the supreme decision-making arm of the continential governing body, comes at a time that Zimbabwe has qualified for its first Rugby World Cup in over three decades.

Rugby Africa president Mensah, who is also a member of the Executive Board of global governing body World Rugby, has continuously pledged support for the Sables on their return to the sport’s greatest showpiece.

The Rugby Africa AGM will chiefly dwell on modernisation and professionalism in the governance of the game on the continent in line with the standards of global governing body World Rugby.

But World Cup-bound Zimbabwe, which has already taken a major step towards professionalism through the assistance of a national teams fund-raising trust led by Lindsay Earle, will also occupy special focus in Kampala.