The 31-year-old Masakadza made his international debut 14 years ago but personal reasons kept him out of the 2003 squad and fluctuations in form meant he was dropped for the 2007 and 2011 tournaments.
"We think it's a good ground to chase down the score so hopefully we can start well with the ball," Chigumbura said.
"It's a good wicket and it probably won't change at all over the 100 overs."
Masakadza and wicketkeeper/batsman Brendan Taylor will be expected to provide the bulk of Zimbabwe's runs in their chase, if they can see off South Africa's vaunted pace attack of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel.
The trio are part of the reason South Africa are considered one of the favourites for the tournament, though captain AB de Villiers acknowledged on Saturday they had been in that position before only to end up being labelled 'chokers' after failing to lift the trophy.
One such 'choking' moment occurred in the 1999 World Cup when Zimbabwe beat their South Africa by 48 runs at Chelmsford, their only World Cup victory against their neighbours, who have won 34 of the 37 matches the two countries have played.
The last time they lost to Zimbabwe was at Durban in 2000.
South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (captain), David Miller, JP Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza, Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Elton Chigumbura (captain), Soloman Mire, Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara, Tafadzwa Kamungozi
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury in Wellington; Editing by Patrick Johnston)
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