The Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) Zone IV Presidents convened in Dar es Salaam on the 2^nd August 2025, for their mid-year review meeting. This meeting was held on the sidelines of the 2025 Eastern Africa 12 & Under Junior Teams’ Competition and brought together presidents and senior officials from Tanzania, Comoros, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Seychelles to evaluate progress made since their last meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, in November 2024, and to chart the way forward for the region’s tennis development.

The meeting featured a comprehensive review led by the ITF Development Officer, Thierry Ntwali who presented a detailed scorecard assessing achievements against the objectives set in Maputo. The evaluation fostered an open and constructive dialogue, highlighting successes, identifying pending tasks, and realigning priorities to ensure sustained momentum.

“This meeting was an important moment of reflection and mutual accountability,” stated Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani, CAT Vice President and Zone IV President. “We acknowledged the milestones reached and addressed outstanding challenges with renewed focus and clear timelines ahead of our next meeting in November 2025.”

The key outcomes and action plans that emerged from the meeting were:

Digitalisation Working Group Established
Under the leadership of Tanzania's Tennis Association president Francis Thomas and with support from Thierry, the newly formed working group comprises representatives from all member countries. Their mandate is to accelerate digital transformation initiatives across the region.

Development Committee Mobilised
Chaired by Uganda’s Secretary General Alvin mboijana, this committee is tasked with organising a three-day regional training camp to take place before upcoming zonal events — an action item reaffirmed during the meeting.

Commitments to Event Hosting Reaffirmed
Member countries recommitted to hosting at least one tournament for players aged 14 & Under in 2025. They also agreed to explore opportunities to expand events for the 18 & Under category while encouraging strong participation from homegrown players.

Expansion of WTT Junior Events
The region aims to increase the number of World Tennis Tour Junior (WTT_J) events from 21 to 28 in 2025. This growth will focus on enhancing tournament quality and player experience.

Reducing Travel Barriers
Federations agreed to collaborate on negotiating affordable accommodation solutions, facilitating more accessible cross-border travel for players and their families.

A key feature of the meeting was the sharing of experiences, with each country presenting successes and challenges. This exchange proved invaluable, allowing participants to learn from one another’s journeys.

“Sharing insights fosters a culture of collective growth. The feedback and advice exchanged during these sessions empower all participants to return home with practical ideas to implement,” added Mbugua-Karani.

Zone IV’s leadership demonstrated a strong commitment to self-reliance and regional solidarity, the group emphasized collaboration and mutual support as the foundations for sustainable development.

“Our strength lies in working together. We choose to rely on each other’s capabilities to advance tennis in our region,” affirmed the meeting chair.

With progress on multiple fronts and clear strategies in place, the Zone IV presidents look ahead with confidence as they prepare for their next meeting scheduled for November 2025.