By Paul Nyathi

Minister of Provincial Affairs for Mashonaland Central Advocate Martin Dinha stole the limelight when he became the toast at the just ended National Darts Association of Zimbabwe National Darts Championships held in Mvurwi over the Easter weekend.

Branding the now popular multi coloured scarf associated with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Minister Dinha forced a four hour delay in the kick off of the heavily congested games as he officiated at the opening ceremony of the event on Easter Friday morning.

Addressing players and delegates at the annual event, the jovial Minister invited the more than three hundred participants to join him at his residence in Bindura for a braai to celebrate his and ZANU PF’s imminent election victory when the teams return to the province in August for the Annual Heroes Holiday interprovincial championships.

“We will host all of you at our provincial statehouse in Bindura when you come in August probably after our election victory,” said Dinha.

Zimbabweans are expected to go to the polls in July or August to elect a new government.

Turning to the sport, Minister Dinha called on NDAZ to continue developing the sport of darts in the country turning it into a full-fledged professional sport and not a pub game.

“I have always known darts to be a pub sport but today I am very happy to see that the sport is growing into a real professional sport and you must continue developing this game into a professional level,” said Dinha.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the event NDAZ President Menard Moyo called on the provincial darts associations to hid to the Minister’s call and take the initiative to turn the sport into a professional game a major priority.

Meanwhile, Mashonaland Central province continued to dominate Zimbabwean darts clinching the men’s national championship after dismissing rivals Harare Province in the finals.

National Champion David Nyemba still failed to get a challenge big enough to wrestle the crown he has taken hold of for over a decade. Nyemba shook off the challenge from Selesio Gunda of Manicaland to retain the open singles title before dismissing a determined Modekai Dheka of Harare in the main event the closed singles.

In the ladies session, Midlands Province led by national team players Thebeth Zhoya and Letwin Svavisai retained the championship for a second year running. The two ladies went on to claim the singles and double crowns between them confirming them as the best two darts playing ladies in the country.

Overall Results:
Ladies:
Team Events:
1st Place
Midlands Province

2nd Place
Mashonaland Central

3rd Place
Harare Province

Closed Doubles:
1 Letwin Svavisai, Tabeth Zhoya (Midlands)

2 Sawujadi Phiri, Hlonipani Ndlovu (Matabeleland South)

3 Melody Gezana, Petronella Mususa (Manicaland)

Closed Singles:
1) Tabeth Zhoya (Midlands)

2) Petronella Mususa (Manicaland)

3) Svodai Nyika (Harare)

Open Doubles:

1) Letwin Svavisai, Tabeth Zhoya – Midlands

2 Linister Mutinhiri, Jenipher Njini – Mashonaland Central

3 Cecilia Nzonzo, Christabel Mupfure – Harare

Open Singles
1 Letwin Svavisai – Midlands

2 Hlonipani Ndlovu – Matabeleland South

3 Christabel Mupfure – Harare

Men’s Session

TEAM EVENT
1 – MASH WEST

2 – HARARE

3 – MIDLANDS

CLOSED DOUBLES:

1 Caleb Sigauke, Salesio Gunda –Manicaland

2 Aubrey Maganga, Nyasha Chiriseri – Harare

3 Modekai Dheka, Daniel Mavhura – Harare

OPEN SINGLES
1 David Nyemba – Mashonaland West

2 Salesio Gunda – Manicaland

3 Kudzanayi Nyemba – Mashonaland West

CLOSED SINGLES
1 David Nyemba – Mashonaland West

2 Modekai Dheka – Harare

3 Kudzanayi Nyemba – Mashonaland West

OPEN DOUBLES
1 Daniel Mavhura, Modekai Dheka – Harare

2 Gilbert Mhepo, Arnold Musarava – Midlands

3 David Nyemba, Kudzanayi Nyemba – Mashonaland West