The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has appointed three Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) officials to serve in different commissions of the international chess body.
ZCF Interim Trainers Commission chairperson Eric Takawira, who is also a FIDE trainer (FT) and an international organiser (IO), has been appointed to serve as a councillor on the FIDE Social Chess Commission.
The Social Chess Commission is an arm dedicated to using chess as a tool for social development.
Zimbabwe has been one of the leading examples in this regard with its growing and thriving Chess-in-Prisons initiative.
Among by-products of the initiative are the Behind The Wall Chess Tournament, and Zimbabwe is the only African representative in the Intercontinental Online Chess Championships for Prisoners.
ZCF Women chess director Fungirayiini Mushaninga has been appointed on the FIDE Technical Commission as a member.
Mushaninga, a decorated FIDE arbiter (FA), was part of the Telecommunications team at the 2022 World Chess Olympiad held in Chennai, India.
ZCF executive member Tapiwa Gora will serve as a member of the FIDE Disabled Commission.
Gora is the current technical and national teams director with the ZCF executive committee.
ZCF acting president Mucha Mkanganwi described the appointment of the trio as an honour for the national association.
“This is an honour for our country. The experience they will gain there will in no doubt help us to develop our own commissions to world-class levels.
“This is a massive development,” said Mkanganwi.
