The Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy has announced that the Trabablas 3 International Boxing Tournament will be held at Kwekwe Sports Arena on September 25, 2026, bringing together boxers from six southern and central African countries.

The tournament, which is expected to draw competitors from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania, is being positioned as more than a night of international boxing action. Organisers say it will serve as a platform for youth empowerment, talent identification, discipline and regional sporting exchange.

Speaking at a press conference, the Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy said Trabablas 3 forms part of its broader mission to use boxing as a practical vehicle for social transformation and national development.

The academy said it was committed to expanding access to boxing opportunities across all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe, ensuring that talented young people from both urban and rural communities are given a chance to develop their skills.

“Our vision goes beyond one city, one province or one boxing gym,” the academy said. “We want young people in every part of Zimbabwe to understand that they have a place in sport and that their talent can open doors to a better future.”

The academy’s national outreach vision covers Harare, Bulawayo, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands Province.

According to the organisers, the objective is not only to produce successful professional boxers, but also to develop disciplined, focused and responsible young citizens.

“We are not only looking for champions inside the ring. We are building champions in life,” the academy said.

The Trabablas 3 International Boxing Tournament comes at a time when sporting organisations are increasingly being called upon to contribute to youth development and help address social challenges affecting communities.

The Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy said boxing can play a meaningful role in keeping young people away from drug and substance abuse, crime and other destructive activities by giving them a structured and purposeful environment.

The academy noted that drug and substance abuse remains a concern among young people in Zimbabwe and many other countries, and said practical alternatives were needed to help youths make positive choices.

“We cannot simply complain about the problem,” the academy said. “We must create alternatives. We must give young people somewhere to go, something to believe in and a purpose.”

It said a boxing gym teaches values that extend beyond the sport itself, including hard work, respect, patience, self-control and resilience.

A young person who enters a boxing gym learns that progress takes time, the academy said. The athlete is taught to wake up early, train consistently, accept setbacks, learn from defeat and return with greater determination.

That process, organisers believe, can help young people understand that success is built through commitment rather than quick fixes.

The academy’s message to the youth is clear: choose sport over drugs, discipline over crime, ambition over hopelessness and a constructive future over destructive behaviour.

Organisers also said the tournament supports the national vision of youth empowerment and development being promoted by the Government.

The academy acknowledged the efforts of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Ministry of Sport, Youth, Arts and Recreation in supporting programmes aimed at empowering young people throughout the country.

It said sport has an important role to play in complementing national development initiatives, particularly through mentorship, talent development and the creation of opportunities for young people.

“As a boxing academy, our contribution is through what we know best: boxing, mentorship, discipline, talent identification and youth empowerment,” the academy said.

The event is expected to give Zimbabwean boxers an opportunity to test themselves against regional opponents while gaining exposure on an international platform.

For visiting boxers, Trabablas 3 will provide a chance to compete in Zimbabwe, experience the country’s boxing culture and build sporting relationships with athletes and coaches from across the region.

The academy said the participation of boxers from six countries makes the tournament a significant regional sporting occasion rather than a purely local event.

“We want Kwekwe to become a place where athletes from different nations meet, compete, learn from one another and build friendships through sport,” organisers said.

They added that boxing has the power to bring together people from different backgrounds, languages and countries through shared values of discipline, courage, respect and fair competition.

While boxers will enter the ring as opponents, the academy said the sport encourages mutual respect and recognises the sacrifices athletes make in preparing for competition.

The selection of Kwekwe Sports Arena as the venue is also expected to place Midlands Province at the centre of regional boxing attention on the night of September 25.

The academy has called on residents of Kwekwe, the Midlands Province and boxing supporters from across Zimbabwe to attend the tournament and rally behind the athletes.

With international participation, youth-focused messaging and a strong emphasis on talent development, Trabablas 3 is set to offer both sporting entertainment and an important platform for promoting the positive role boxing can play in Zimbabwean society.