Zim Chess Boss, Todd Mapingire Hails Unity as African Youth Champs Conclude

THE 16th African Youth Chess Championships ended Saturday at Dominican Convent School in Harare, drawing participants from every African region.

Organised by ACC and hosted by the Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF), event highlighted country’s growing chess infrastructure.

ZCF president Todd Mapingire told the closing ceremony: “We made it to the 16th edition of the Championship. All regions of Africa are represented here, and on behalf of the North West and Central Coast, the ZCM is proud of this fact.”
He thanked Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and Sports Education Commission for support.

Mapingire praised the school for hosting the event in its hostels, avoiding unsafe, congested conditions. “Special mention goes to leadership of the region’s local school, to let the system reside in school hostels, to avert unsafe and congested environment for our championship. The school undertook immense refurbishment and upgrading works, just so that community enjoys access to hospitality facilities and amenities and services,” he said.

He also thanked security forces: “The event shelter system, entered by local power, supported by a police escort team, was one of our key success factors. We could not have done it without Dominican Government’s school’s intervention. It would be remiss on my part to not acknowledge immense support of our great professional police, whose reassuring presence was a comfort to all of us.”

Mapingire highlighted African Chess Committee, its president Tshepiso Lopang, and local organising committee, noting the team worked with minimal resources to lay a solid foundation for the championship.

He concluded: “Thank you to everyone, and from ZCF, we wish you safe travel back to your respective countries. Zimbabwe appreciates you, and can forever be indebted to you.