For nearly 20 years, Zambia had struggled to secure a medal in the Olympics. However, this two-decade-long dry spell was finally broken by Zambia’s National Service Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, Staff Sergeant Muzala Samukonga, who earned a bronze medal at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Samukonga not only ended Zambia’s medal drought but also set a new national record with a time of 43.74 seconds in the 400m final, placing Zambia among the top Southern African countries with medals in this year’s Olympics.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s 200m Olympic sprinters, Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, made history by securing spots in the men’s 200m track finals. The duo became the first Zimbabwean athletes to achieve this milestone, thanks to their impressive third-place finishes in yesterday’s semifinals.

Makarawu and Charamba will compete for medals alongside other African athletes, including Lestile Tebogo from Botswana and Joseph Fahnbulleh from Liberia. They will be running in lanes 3 and 2, respectively, at 20:30 (Zimbabwean time).

The duo hopes to make history as the first Zimbabwean Olympians to win medals in Paris during the ongoing Summer Olympics. The last time Zimbabwe won an Olympic medal was in 2008, courtesy of Hon. Kirsty Coventry.