Harare — HOST province Masvingo successfully defended the national Paralympic Games title when they won the competition, which finished at Mucheke on Friday night.

Masvingo won the inaugural games staged in Bulawayo last year. After winning the right to host the second edition, Masvingo made full use of home advantage to claim pole position with 67 medals. Masvingo, who were simply in a class of their own, scooped 33 gold, 21 silver and 13 bronze medals.

Bulawayo were second with 21 medals that included 12 gold, seven silver and two bronze medals. Manicaland who will host the 2010 edition of the Games were third after picking up 18 medals comprising 12 gold, four silver and two bronze.

Manicaland's gold-medal haul helped them edge Midlands into fourth place with the latter collecting eight gold, as many silver and 10 bronze. Former World Paralympic Games champion and Shabanie Mine coach Elliot Mujaji was in charge of the Midlands athletics team, which contributed four gold, six silver and three bronze to their privince's total.

Pre-games favourites Harare were a disappointing fifth.

Harare, who had been expected to provide the biggest challenge to Masvingo, managed eight gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals.

Mashonaland Central with 24 medals, came sixth, Mashonaland West (18 medals) were seventh, National Youth Games hosts Mashonaland East finished eighth with 15 medals while Matabeleland South with a paltry six medals were ninth.

Matabeleland North could only manage just two medals, a silver and a bronze to finish last.

Unlike the inaugural games in Bulawayo where only six provinces took part, there was a 100 percent turnout at the Masvingo Games.

The provinces competed in six disciplines -- athletics, netball, football, goal-ball, wheelchair basketball and five-a-side football. Masvingo sealed their place at the top after dominating in athletics where they got all their 33 gold medals.

Bulawayo managed 11 gold medals from athletics and five silver in goal ball, a sport for those with impaired hearing. Harare had five gold medals from athletics with the other three coming from victories in wheelchair basketball, football and netball.

Their football side beat Gibson Homela's Bulawayo province 3-2 after penalties. The two sides had been deadlocked 0-0 after 90 minutes.