ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani has been unanimously elected as the substantive chairman of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA), confirming his status as one of the continent’s most influential cricket administrators.
This was announced at the ACA’s 27th Annual General Meeting held in Singapore on Friday. Mukuhlani had been serving as the continental body’s interim chair since November last year, steering the organisation through far-reaching reforms that have redefined its governance and strategic direction.
His unanimous endorsement by the newly-elected ACA Executive Board — which includes seasoned administrators Rihaan Richards (South Africa), Uyi Akpata (Nigeria), Stephen Musaale (Rwanda), Michael Nuwagaba (Uganda), Franklyn Conteh (Sierra Leone) and Polly Negongo (Namibia) — was both a powerful vote of confidence and a clear sign of unity among African cricketing nations.
In his acceptance speech, Mukuhlani described the moment as pivotal for the future of the sport in Africa.
“We stand today at the threshold of a new era for African cricket — an era defined by stronger governance, broader opportunity and renewed ambition,” he declared.
“Let us continue building on the progress we have made, united by a common purpose and driven by a shared love for the game.” Mukuhlani’s ascension to the ACA’s top post is the latest milestone in a leadership journey that began with the Mashonaland Cricket Association and reached new heights with his appointment as ZC chairman in 2015.
Over the past decade, he has guided ZC through financial crises, an ICC suspension and turbulent times with steady hands and clear vision. Today, ZC stands revitalised — its development programmes expanding and its international standing significantly improved. Mukuhlani’s influence extends well beyond Zimbabwe.
A respected figure on the global stage, he sits on the ICC Board of Directors and its Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee. He also chairs the ICC’s Cricket Kenya Committee and played a pivotal role in securing cricket’s return to the Olympic Games for Los Angeles 2028. Since assuming the ACA interim chairmanship in November 2023, Mukuhlani has led with urgency and ambition.
Under his leadership, the ACA adopted a new Memorandum of Incorporation, setting out a legal and operational framework aligned with global best practices and designed to ensure transparency, inclusivity and sustainability.
These reforms are already reshaping the ACA into a more accountable and professional body — better equipped to attract investment, support member nations and grow the game across Africa. But Mukuhlani’s vision extends well beyond governance.
He is a driving force behind cricket’s potential inclusion in the 2027 African Games in Egypt — a landmark initiative aimed at broadening the sport’s visibility and fan base across the continent. “These engagements are crucial not only for visibility but also for opening new doors of investment, policy support and continental collaboration,” he said.
Grassroots development, youth engagement and the elevation of women’s cricket are at the heart of his strategy. He is also championing innovative funding models to expand ACA competitions and bolster national development pathways.
“Together, let us continue to grow the game, empower our players and position Africa as a rising force in the global cricketing family,” Mukuhlani urged. With the confidence of a united continent behind him and a clear vision ahead, Mukuhlani is poised to lead African cricket into a dynamic new chapter — one in which Africa does not merely participate in global cricket but helps define its future. — ZC