Fitness buffs were to gather Saturday in Bulawayo for the Matebeleland Bodybuilding and Weight Lifting Association's Mr. and Ms. Matabeleland competition, but the event's organizers expressed disappointment no women would participate.
Zimbabwe Weight Lifting Association Secretary Marko Mwale said it was a shame that no women registered for the competition. He said the absence of female weightlifters would further alienate Zimbabwean women from competitive sports.
Like other sports in Zimbabwe, bodybuilding has had trouble attracting sponsors to cover the cost of such events, but Mwale said some prizes had been lined up.
Sports reporter Marvellous Mhlanga-Nyahuye of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe asked Mwale why he thought Zimbabwe's female muscle builders snubbed the contest.