Progress Johnson

The Zimbabwe national netball team, the Gems, produced a stunning response to their recent setback by demolishing Tanzania 73-28 on Wednesday to book their place in the play-offs of the 2027 Netball World Cup African Qualifiers.

The emphatic 45-goal victory revived Zimbabwe’s qualification hopes after a disappointing 47-31 defeat to Namibia and set up a decisive clash with Malawi on Friday for a ticket to the World Cup in Sydney.

The Gems were relentless from the first whistle. They raced into a 20-7 lead in the opening quarter before stretching their advantage to 42-12 at half-time, effectively killing the contest before the break.

Coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki’s charges showed no mercy after the interval, extending the lead to 57-20 by the end of the third quarter before completing the rout.

The 73-goal haul was Zimbabwe’s highest of the tournament and underlined a dramatic return to form.

Reflecting on the turnaround, Mutsauki praised her players for their character.

“After the Namibia loss, we had a frank conversation about what needed to change. The response today was exactly what we demanded – intensity from the first whistle, discipline in defence and precision in attack. This is the standard we must maintain,” she said.

The Gems had started the campaign brightly with a win over Botswana, but defeats to powerhouses South Africa and Namibia left their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

Against Tanzania, however, they rediscovered their rhythm, with the shooters on target and the defensive unit suffocating the opposition.

Captain Felistus Kwangwa said the team is ready for the Malawi hurdle.

“We know what is at stake and we are not shying away from it. Malawi are a strong side, but we have shown what we are capable of when we play our game. We will leave everything on the court,” Kwangwa said.

The result guarantees Zimbabwe a place in the play-offs, with a World Cup berth now just one win away.