Campus News
By Stephen Atone Ngomani
Midlands State University (MSU) delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 Chancellor's Staff Games for Zimbabwe State Universities, finishing fourth overall after securing 17 medals across various sporting disciplines.
The annual games, which brought together staff members from 15 state universities, showcased athletic excellence, teamwork and camaraderie while promoting wellness among employees in Zimbabwe's higher and tertiary education sector.
MSU's strong showing was underpinned by an outstanding performance in both team and individual events, where the university collected eight gold medals, four silver medals and five bronze medals.
The university struck gold in men's darts, netball, women's soccer, men's basketball, ladies' pool, men's javelin, the women's 100 metres, and the women's 4x100-metre relay, reflecting the depth of talent across its sporting teams.
Beyond the mainstream sporting disciplines, MSU also excelled in the Paralympic Games, where the university won five gold medals, highlighting its commitment to inclusivity and equal participation in sport.
The 2026 Chancellor's Staff Games were hosted by Great Zimbabwe University at its Mashava Campus, with athletics events commencing on 20 July before the competition concluded on 25 July 2026.
The games continue to serve as an important platform for strengthening collaboration and interaction among Zimbabwe's state universities while encouraging healthy lifestyles through sport and recreation.
The closing ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Honourable Frederick Shava, who commended participating institutions for embracing sport as an integral part of university life.
Addressing participants, Minister Shava described this year's edition as unique because of its deliberate focus on promoting Zimbabwean culture through the introduction of traditional games such as tsoro and nhodo.
He said incorporating indigenous games into the competition not only provides recreation but also stimulates critical thinking and helps preserve Zimbabwe's rich cultural heritage for future generations.
The Minister encouraged universities to continue embracing innovation in sport while ensuring that traditional games remain part of national sporting and educational programmes.
The Chancellor's Staff Games are held annually to foster unity, friendship and healthy competition among employees from Zimbabwe's state universities. The tournament also provides a platform for institutions to showcase excellence in sport, promote staff wellness and strengthen inter-university collaboration.
MSU's fourth-place finish and impressive medal tally reflect the university's continued investment in sporting excellence and staff development. The university's success across multiple disciplines demonstrates the commitment, discipline and teamwork of its athletes, coaches and support staff, who proudly represented the institution throughout the week-long competition.
As the university celebrates another successful outing, the results reinforce MSU's reputation as one of Zimbabwe's leading institutions, excelling not only in teaching, research and innovation, but also in sport, wellness and community engagement.
The annual games, which brought together staff members from 15 state universities, showcased athletic excellence, teamwork and camaraderie while promoting wellness among employees in Zimbabwe's higher and tertiary education sector.
MSU's strong showing was underpinned by an outstanding performance in both team and individual events, where the university collected eight gold medals, four silver medals and five bronze medals.
The university struck gold in men's darts, netball, women's soccer, men's basketball, ladies' pool, men's javelin, the women's 100 metres, and the women's 4x100-metre relay, reflecting the depth of talent across its sporting teams.
Beyond the mainstream sporting disciplines, MSU also excelled in the Paralympic Games, where the university won five gold medals, highlighting its commitment to inclusivity and equal participation in sport.
The 2026 Chancellor's Staff Games were hosted by Great Zimbabwe University at its Mashava Campus, with athletics events commencing on 20 July before the competition concluded on 25 July 2026.
The games continue to serve as an important platform for strengthening collaboration and interaction among Zimbabwe's state universities while encouraging healthy lifestyles through sport and recreation.
The closing ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Honourable Frederick Shava, who commended participating institutions for embracing sport as an integral part of university life.
Addressing participants, Minister Shava described this year's edition as unique because of its deliberate focus on promoting Zimbabwean culture through the introduction of traditional games such as tsoro and nhodo.
He said incorporating indigenous games into the competition not only provides recreation but also stimulates critical thinking and helps preserve Zimbabwe's rich cultural heritage for future generations.
The Minister encouraged universities to continue embracing innovation in sport while ensuring that traditional games remain part of national sporting and educational programmes.
The Chancellor's Staff Games are held annually to foster unity, friendship and healthy competition among employees from Zimbabwe's state universities. The tournament also provides a platform for institutions to showcase excellence in sport, promote staff wellness and strengthen inter-university collaboration.
MSU's fourth-place finish and impressive medal tally reflect the university's continued investment in sporting excellence and staff development. The university's success across multiple disciplines demonstrates the commitment, discipline and teamwork of its athletes, coaches and support staff, who proudly represented the institution throughout the week-long competition.
As the university celebrates another successful outing, the results reinforce MSU's reputation as one of Zimbabwe's leading institutions, excelling not only in teaching, research and innovation, but also in sport, wellness and community engagement.
Published
July 27, 2026 at 9:00 AM
