By Desire Tshuma
HARARE — As the country prepares to commemorate Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day, Zimbabwe’s strongest man Jonathan “Mr. Mat” Muvingi is expected to once again entertain thousands with displays of incredible strength.
Mr. Mat, a professional wrestler and member of the security forces, has become a familiar face at national events where he pulls trucks and other heavy vehicles in front of cheering crowds. His performances have over the years drawn attention for both their spectacle and the discipline behind them.
He earned the name “Mr. Strongman” within military circles after years of intense training. He says he spends hours in the gym every day, lifting weights of 550kg and more, and bench pressing between 370kg and 400kg. That dedication saw him become the first local strongman to pull a 30-tonne truck. He has also pulled an 18-tonne truck at ZITF 2022 and a loaded fuel tanker in Damofalls, and made headlines after pulling a haulage truck at the National Sports Stadium during a past Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day celebration.
The displays are not limited to trucks alone. Mr. Mat has also been seen pulling a plough with his bare hands, a feat that resonates with many rural communities. Fellow soldier Arnold Zikhali, also known as “Mr Strong”, has similarly impressed the nation after pulling a 56-tonne NRZ wagon for 100 metres, highlighting the strength within the Zimbabwe National Army.
Beyond the stunts, Mr. Mat is also a Kurash champion. He won gold at the 18th African Kurash Championships in South Africa in August 2022 and has represented Zimbabwe at several international competitions.
Back home in Damofalls, Harare, he is working to set up an academy. He says the academy will be used to train young athletes and to help in the fight against drug abuse in the community.
With Heroes and Defence Forces Day commemorations approaching, Mr. Mat is expected to pull ZNA trucks as part of the entertainment for the day. For many who attend the commemorations, watching him drag a military truck across the parade ground has become part of the experience, symbolising power, discipline and resilience — values linked to the day.
Officials note that such displays help connect members of the public to the Defence Forces in a unique way, blending patriotism with sport.
At 108kg, Mr. Mat credits his strength to strict training, diet and consistency. As Zimbabwe gets ready to honour its heroes and men and women in uniform this August, he says his aim remains to make the nation proud, whether on the wrestling mat, in training, or pulling a truck for crowds gathered to celebrate.