What began as a simple pastime among 10 passionate draught players at Zengeza 2 shopping centre in Chitungwiza has grown into a vibrant and dedicated community.
Come rain, blazing sun, or gusty wind, the players refused to be moved — driven by nothing more than the pure love of the game.
With no fancy boards or sponsorships, they made do with concrete blocks and makeshift surfaces, their focus never shaken.
As their numbers grew, so did their determination. Tired of being scorched, soaked, and swept by weather elements, the group pooled their resources and built an ordinary shade — a proud symbol of their unity, resilience and commitment to keeping the draught spirit alive at the heart of their neighbourhood.
Such is the life experienced by Cornwell Mwerahari (50) and his Zengeza 2 Draft Club members, who formed their club in 2004 specifically for leisure and entertainment.
“We started the Zengeza 2 Draught Club in 2004 with a membership of 10,” said Mwerahari, the Zengeza 2 Draught Club coordinator.
“Our main aim was to push ourselves away from the social vices, creating entertainment and leisure time for ourselves.
“When we started we were very few as compared to the number [23 registered members] which we have reached so far.
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“As you can see our club now has some youths in their early 20s an indication that draught has been received among the youths.”
He added: “We do not play for money, but for the love of the game.
“We normally use this area as meeting place with my friends, even at home if they want to see me, they really know where to find me.”
For the past 20 years, Mwerahari has witnessed draft being graced by people of different ages. With time the members had to build a makeshift shade in order to protect players from the scorching sun and being soaked by heavy down pours of rain fall, particularly during the rainy season.
“Since draught is an entertaining game many people come to play this game as early as 11am in the morning.
“We then decided to buy zinc iron sheets, and some poles and erect a small makeshift shade to protect ourselves from the sun and rain.
“Mostly if it rains we would leave everything and seek shelter from snooker shades and at times they will chase us away,” Mwerahari said with a sorrowful face.
Although Mwerahari and his team have enjoyed playing draft for the past two decades, they have not even participated in any tournament and they do not even have checkerboards and draught pieces.
All they use is a concrete slab designed as a checkerboard and beer bottle tops, something that is unprofessional considering that there is a Draught Association with a functioning league.
“Over the past two decades the time we have been here, we are encountering challenges of playing without a sponsor, that is we just play for fun with nothing to show,” Mwerahari said.
“We are not playing in any league, but our club is intact.
“We do not even have any proper tools of the game that include checkers boards and their checkers pieces.
“For all these years we use makeshift pieces and a concrete slab, while sitting on wood poles.”
He added: “We have heard that Delta Beverages sponsored a draught tournament in Sakubva, Mutare two months ago [July] with their Eagle Lager brand which is a very good development in our sport.
“We now hope that maybe one day they will also come to Chitungwiza.”
The Zimbabwe Draught Federation president Andrew Gwatidzo welcomed the development of new players, who wish to join them as they will be contributing to the upliftment of the game.
“Firstly, I would like to appreciate the drive, which the Zengeza 2 Draught Club has shown,” Gwatidzo said.
“As a matter of urgency we need to visit them and see the situation on the ground on Saturday or Sunday this week.
“We are not strong financially, but we are going to negotiate with our sponsor Delta Beverages [Eagle Lager] and maybe host a tournament as a morale booster for them.
“That way they stand to benefit a lot from things such as checkers boards, pieces and even financially.
“We need to incorporate them into our league where they would end up playing at national level.
“They need to be at the same level with other players at Zengeza 4 and Makoni in Chitungwiza, who are in the league.
“Our wish is to accommodate everyone and this will help grow our sport.”
What began with just 10 individuals has grown into a lively community bound by love for a simple board game.
Despite being scorched by the sun, drenched by the rain, and battered by the wind, they never gave up — proving that true passion doesn’t need luxury or comfort to thrive.
Their resilience has turned a street corner into a space of fellowship, strategy, and pride — where the game lives on, one move at a time.
