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Midlands Correspondent
THE National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness (NFZBF) have released their calendar of events for 2016 with six major events lined up.

Mr and Miss Novice will kick start the bodybuilding calendar year on March 26 followed by Mr Schools set for April 16.

Mr and Miss Ironman will be held on August 27, while the flagship event, Mr and Miss Zimbabwe, will be held on October 29.

A new competition, Mr Strongman Zimbabwe, has also been incorporated and dates for the competition would be advised during the course of the year.

NFZBF spokesperson Quiet Shingai said the six provincial structures that were set up in 2015 are also expected to hold their provincial bodybuilding and fitness contests by the end of August. Structures were set up in Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Midlands provinces.

Shingai said the federation will be setting up structures and holding training workshops in the remaining four provinces as part of their drive to spread the sport countrywide.

“As a federation, we realised that there is need to improve competitiveness at our national events because we’ve the same athletes competing every year. We’ve tasked the provincial structures to set up district committees and each province will be required to have at least two competitions,” Shingai said.

“We expect each province to have held their provincial competitions by August 31 or before so that we can have budding bodybuilders taking part in the Mr and Miss Ironman and the Mr and Miss Zimbabwe. We are also going to set up structures in the remaining provinces so that bodybuilding is represented across the country.”

Bodybuilding was in the doldrums due to the harsh economic environment, but the sport has experienced a rebound since 2013.

2016 NFZBF Calendar

1. Mr and Miss Novice: 26 March

2. Mr Schools: 16 April

3. Mr and Miss Ironman: 27 August

4. Provincial Competitions: by 31 August

5. Strongman Zimbabwe: To be advised

6. Mr and Miss Zimbabwe: 29 October