The African Union Sports Council Region 5 successfully hosted the sixth edition of the Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA) in Lusaka, Zambia on Saturday, 25 May 2024.  The awards were graced by Zambia’s President His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, represented by the Vice President Her Honour Mrs Mutale Nalumango as the Guest of Honour.

Winners in the twelve categories were announced amid pomp and fanfare as the main award of the day went to Botswana’s Tebogo Letsile who scooped the 2024 Sportsperson of the year award.  Tebogo went home with two awards during the night as he also won the Junior Sportsman of the Year award. 

The sportswoman of the year with disability award went to  South Agrican discus and shot put athlete Simone Kruger with sportsman of the year with disability going to Ananias Shikongo of Namibia. Junior female sportsperson of the year award went to Eswatini swimmer Hayley Hoy while Junior male sportsperson of the year award was won by sensational sprinter Tebogo Letsile of Botswana.  Sports Journalist of the year award was won by Zambian Virginia Cholongo.  Sportsman of the year award went to South African Rugby National Team – Springboks captain Siya Kolisi while the Sportswoman of the year award was won by Michelle Tau of taekwondo in Lesotho.    Coach of the year award went to Namibian Kleopas Letu Hamhola with team of the year award going to the Springboks of South Africa.  The Confederation of the year award was won by Judo for the second year in a row with Botswana wining the Country of the year award.  The night belonged to Botswana’s Tebogo Letsile who won the biggest award of the night being conferred the Sportsperson of the year.

The 2024 edition of the RASA doubled up as the launchpad for commemorating attainment of twenty-five years of Region 5 existence.  The Silver Jubilee was officially launched by Zambia’s President who was represented by his Vice President Her Honour Mrs Mutale Nalumango.  The launch led to conferment of Jubilee awards to twelve of the intended twenty-five deserving cadres on the night.  These are men and women who made significant contributions to sport over the last twenty five years.  Nine of the award recipients had been selected by a team of adjudicators with three being the Region 5 Chairperson’s award recipients. 

The nine Silver Jubilee award winners selected by the judges included Absolom Scara Thindwa of Eswatini, a football legend who plied his trade with Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa before giving back to the community by introducing Scars Thindwa Soccer foundation in 2009.  Another was Maswazi Hezekiel Shongwe of Eswatini played a pivotal role in the development of sport in the Kingdom of Eswatini.  Dorcas Makgatho the former Chairperson of the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) renowned for having introduced the National Games in 2007 was also honoured.  She successfully lobbied the Botswana government to introduce the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture and helped transform Botswana sport into a global success story.  Kagiso Kitso Kemoeng the former Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC), Botswana Football Association (BFA) Chief Executive Officer and former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture was also honored for having played a significant role in reviving Special Olympics and formation of the Paralympic Sport Association of Botswana and the Botswana Sport Volunteer Movement (SVM).  Next was former sprinter Frankie Fredricks of Namibia who won several medals at the Olympics in the 1990s before introducing a foundation that has changed hundreds of lives in Namibia through the power of sport. From Lesotho was Teboho Mafatle of Lesotho who is a retired boxing coach who was instrumental in Lesotho’s medals won at the African Games and Sydney Olympics in 2000 and Commonwealth Games held in Manchester in 2002.  Another recipient was Mvuzo Mbebe of South Africa (posthumously) who was a distinguished sports administrator who inspired change at national, regional and continental levels, influencing policy change and transformation.  He was instrumental in the establishment of the AUSC Region 5 and the African Sports Architecture among a host of other powerful decisions in the Region and the continent.  He was pivotal in the establishment and introduction of the Region 5 Youth Games then known as SCSA Zone VI Games.  Former professional boxer Harry Simon of Namibia  who is a two time world champion with WBO Championship in 1998, 2001 and 2002 was also recognised.  The award also was conferred on Charles Dzimba of Zimbabwe, the first black Zimbabwean to serve as Education Officer for sport.  Mr Dzimba served on a number of boards including the SCSA Zone VI Sports Development Committee before becoming the SCSA Zone VI Development Officer rising to become the first SCSA Zone VI General Manager between 2000 and 2012. 

The three Chairperson’s award recipients were Dr Vetumbuavi Veii of Namibia who helped the transition of African sport from SCSA to AUSC, playing a pivotal role in lobbying African countries to buy-in to the new structure.  He served as Region 5 Chairperson for thirteen (13) years during which period the organisation grew in leaps and bounds.  Sonstone Kashiba, the former director of sport in Zambia who served as the SCSA Zone VI Secretary General in 1999 before ascending to become the SCSA Headquarters Executive Secretary until its dissolution in 2013 also received the award.  Dennis Liwewe (posthumously) the former iconic and legendary football commentator of Zambia who became known as “The voice of Zambian Football” also received the Silver Jubilee award.  He transformed the art of football commentary which inspired many and increased the growth and development of football in the Region, Africa and world over through the power of commentary.

The remaining thirteen Silver Jubilee award recipients will be conferred in November in Zimbabwe during the scheduled Cultural Festival to complete the list of twenty-five Silver Jubilee award recipients. 

The Silver Jubilee awards were introduced as a special award meant to express gratitude to men and women that contributed immensely towards the advancement and growth of sport in their respective countries and in the Region.  To be eligible, recipients should have retired from sport at whatever level.  These awards were approved by the Council of Ministers on 14 and 15 December 2023 as a special recognition in commemoration of the twenty-five years of legacy in sport by the Region.

The Region 5 Rewards programme comprises of four offerings.  These include the Regional Annual Sports Awards which are hosted every year in the month of May as a way of sport’s commemoration of Africa Day.  The programme also includes the Medals of Honour conferred every two years to active or retired sportsmen and sportswomen that would have made significant impact to sport over the period under review.  The third offering is the ten year service award conferred to cadres who would have served the Region for ten continuous years.  The final offering is the Sports Hall of Fames which is conferred on all-time legends for outstanding contributions to changing lives and livelihoods though sport

AUSC Region 5 congratulates all those sportsmen and sportswomen that won in the 6^th edition of the Regional Annual Sports Awards as well as the recipients of the Silver Jubilee awards.  Their illustrious performances and inspiration will remain imbedded in the rich sporting heritage of this Region as an indelible mark of excellence!