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Freeman Razemba in MBABANE, Swaziland
ZIMBABWE have, for the fourth time in a row, won the Southern Africa Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisations Games.

Team Zimbabwe won the last three editions of the Games in Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia.

Nearly 200 officers from the ZRP participated in seven disciplines — chess, athletics, soccer (women and men), darts, volleyball, netball and tennis.

Zimbabwe was battling it out with Mauritius, Namibia, Botswana, Angola, South Africa, Swaziland, Mauritius, DRC, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Lesotho.

The ninth edition of the SARPCCO Games, which started on July 22, ended last Saturday.

Zimbabwe scooped 57 medals — 13 gold, 29 silver and 15 bronze, accumulating 956 points.

Namibia came second after scooping 40 medals — 16 gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze, accumulating 766 points.

Swaziland came third with 19 medals — five gold, three silver and 11 bronze, to get 433 points.

Zimbabwean athletes were presented with medals and trophies during a colourful ceremony at Somhlolo National Stadium on Saturday.

The ceremony was attended by Swaziland’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Edgar Hillary, and Zimbabwe Republic Police Deputy Commissioner General (human resources) Levie Sibanda.

Head of the Zimbabwe delegation, Mekia Tanyanyiwa, hailed the team for their hard work and discipline.

The team returned home yesterday to a hero’s welcome.

They were addressed by Sibanda and other senior officers at Morri Depot.

“There’ll will be an official welcome for you to be conducted by Commissioner-General of Police Augustine Chihuri.

“I’d like to thank you for raising the country’s flag high,” he said.

Tanyanyiwa hailed Chihuri for supporting the team.

“We didn’t only win but we were shining as Zimbabwe and lifting the country’s flag high. We managed to be victorious though it was tough,” he said.