By Rangarirai Shanyurai
Shalom Hunda, a 15-year-old girl from Rufaro High School in Masvingo, won a gold medal in the Under-15 girls’ chess category at the National Association of School Heads (NASH) competitions, scoring 7.5 points. The national tournament was held at Chinhoyi High in Chinhoyi from April 11 to 13, 2025.
Masvingo chess coach Moses Kujinga said Hunda was the only Masvingo player to secure a gold medal, noting that the competition was intense, with no boys from the province winning even a bronze.
“We attended the national tournament with many pupils, but only four girls managed to win medals. Shalom Hunda secured a gold medal, while Candice Chikumbirike, Under-15 from Gokomere, won a bronze medal. Rutendo Hwede, Under-17 from Temeraire, also won a bronze, and Audrey Jacob, Under-20 from Ndarama, earned a silver medal.
“The competition was so intense that our boys, from Under-13 to Under-20, couldn’t get a single bronze despite our efforts, reminding us that we still need to work as a province to develop chess,” Kujinga said.
He thanked parents for supporting their children’s participation in the sport and encouraged continued support. “I acknowledge parents who support us by allowing their children to participate in chess and attend tournaments. “Some parents discourage their children, mistakenly thinking it’s a game like draughts or something played by crooks in casinos,” Kujinga added.
Speaking to TellZim News, Chivi District Certified Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) Arbiter and Swiss Manager Odatte Gazimbe highlighted a gender imbalance among the arbiters at the NASH competition, noting that all were men.
“I’m proud of the girls’ achievements despite the gender imbalance among arbiters. There were only men, no women, and thatneeds to be addressed. What men can do, women can do better, and we need equal opportunities, including in training programmes. As a certified ZCF Arbiter and Swiss Manager, this lack of gender balance doesn’t sit well with me. To young girls out there: if you stay focused, consistent, and disciplined, you can achieve anything without limitations,” Gazimbe said.
Gazimbe also noted complaints from participants about harsh treatment by some arbiters and emphasized the need for fair application of rules.
“Some players complained for being treated harshly when they raised concerns with certain arbiters. Chess rules must be applied evenly—these are children’s games, not ours, and the kids need to be guided appropriately. I thank all the organizers but appeal to them to include a chessboard as a prize for the winners,” she said.
