By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
WORLD Boxing Council (WBC) international welterweight boxing champion, Charles Manyuchi has earned himself $50,000 (about K385,000) from Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe for his recent impressive exploits in the ring.
Manyuchi’s boxing exploits were recently heightened when he defeated Gialuca Frezza at his Italian backyard to retain his WBC title.
The $50,000 handed out by the charismatic Mugabe is a whopping $41,000 more than what the Zimbabwe-born boxer earned for his recent win in Italy.
• ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe (left) playfully throws punches at boxer Charles Manyuchi as his wife Fariro Rutendo Hove looks on at State House in Harare on Thursday. Picture by NEWS DAY
Manyuchi was handed the cash at a banquet organised for him by President Mugabe in Harare on Thursday.
The banquet was attended by Zambia’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Ndiyoyi Mutiti, Manyuchi’s Zambian handlers led by his manager, Christopher Malunga from Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotion (OQBP), coach Mike ‘Weaver’ Zulu and female boxing heroine, Catherine Phiri.
President Mugabe eulogised OQBP for the support to the Zimbabwean boxer, saying the recent victories recorded were not just for Zambia and Zimbabwe but also for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the entire Africa.
Mugabe said the close working relationship that exists between Zambia and Zimbabwe were being strengthened by Manyuchi’s exploits.
“We share a common historic background from the liberation struggle. I pay special tribute to President Edgar Lungu for being a boxing parent to Manyuchi, as well as the people at Oriental Quarries who trained and polished this young man.
“I also convey our heartfelt tribute to KK (Kenneth Kaunda) who will forever live in our memories and history,” Mugabe said.
After the banquet, Malunga said OQBP would continue to push the Manyuchi agenda and that the next move being to attend the next WBC Convention in China and bid for a fight against Briton Amir Khan, the WBC welterweight silver champion.
