Betterbrands Pumps US$200k Into Zimbabwe School Sports Revival
Businessman Scott Sakupwanya’s company Betterbrands has signed a US$200,000 (approximately R3.7 million) partnership with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to revive the National Association of Secondary School Heads (NASH) Grassroots Sport Development Programme.
The deal was announced on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo on X. The minister said the initiative would help identify and develop sporting talent in schools across Zimbabwe’s ten provinces.
The partnership places Sakupwanya’s Betterbrands at the centre of efforts to revive grassroots school sport, an area many believe has struggled because of limited funding and reduced development structures over the years.
Torerayi Moyo Announces Betterbrands Partnership
In his statement, Moyo said the ministry had been working towards reviving the programme and praised Betterbrands for backing the initiative.
“I am deeply proud to announce that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Betterbrands have today signed a US$200,000 partnership to revive the NASH Grassroots Sport Development Programme across Zimbabwe.”
The minister said many talented young athletes had failed to get opportunities because of weaknesses in grassroots sporting systems.
“For too long, gifted young Zimbabweans have fallen through the cracks of an underfunded grassroots sport system.”
He added:
“The talented footballer in Binga. The sprinter in Beitbridge. The athlete in Mutare. Young people whose gifts the nation never got to see not because they lacked talent, but because we failed to find them.”
What The US$200k Partnership Will Do
According to Moyo, the programme will focus on talent identification, coaching structures and organised school competitions.
“Through this partnership with Betterbrands, we will strengthen talent identification frameworks across all ten provinces.”
The minister also said the programme would help create pathways from school-level sport to elite competition.
“We will develop structured coaching and competitive programmes at secondary school level and create clear pathways from grassroots participation to elite sport representation.”
Moyo said the initiative was also about empowering learners beyond sport.
“We want to empower Zimbabwe’s young people through the discipline, teamwork and resilience that sport builds.”
Government Says Young Athletes Will Benefit
Moyo said the partnership showed that investment was being directed towards Zimbabwean youth.
“To every secondary school student across Zimbabwe your government sees you. Your talent matters. Your future is being invested in.”
He also linked the project to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo” mantra.
“This country is built by its own people. Betterbrands has chosen to invest in our own people.”
The minister pledged accountability regarding the funds.
“My Ministry will ensure every dollar reaches the young people it is meant to serve.”
NASH competitions have historically been linked to the development of several Zimbabwean athletes who later progressed to higher levels in different sporting disciplines.
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