Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT’S a Wednesday morning at Gwanzura Stadium and Herentals Queens arrive for training in an unusual sight. Instead of the familiar shorts and track pants, the players step onto the pitch wearing skirts. Laughter and awkward smiles ripple through the group as they adjust to the new look.
This isn’t a fashion experiment. The Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League (ZWPSL) has introduced a “Skirts Day” in a bid to curb same-sex relationships among players.
Under the plan, clubs instruct their squads to wear skirts or dresses every Wednesday for training and matches. Those who refuse risk fines of US$10 to US$20.
“Lesbianism is now a reality in our game and we need to act quickly to tame the rot,” said Black Mambas chairperson Shamhuyarira Mupfudza. “Traditionally, we have norms and values in our societies and no matter how dynamic the community can be, we cannot do away with these values. Ladies should dress and behave like women. We understand football has a certain dress code but we must not forget the picture of an ideal woman.”
Herentals Queens, Black Mambas and Red Buffaloes are among the early adopters, with more teams expected to follow. Mupfudza said the fines are meant to send a clear message. “The imposition of fines serves not only as a deterrent but also as a means of enforcing conformity among the athletes,” he added.
The move has ignited sharp debate. Supporters cite Zimbabwe’s Constitution, which bars same-sex marriage under Section 78(3). Critics question whether the initiative infringes on personal freedoms since the law is silent on same-sex relationships.
Red Buffaloes chairperson Evermore Matinyarare framed the action as part of a wider social stance. “Our decision reflects a broader struggle with lesbianism in Zimbabwe, where homosexuality remains illegal,” she said. “Others talk about rights, but according to the Constitution, lesbianism or same-sex marriages and relationships are illegal so there are no rights to talk about on this issue.”
The controversy recalls a 2017 incident when a Mighty Warriors player was dropped from camp over allegations of a lesbian relationship. Club officials say similar situations have discouraged some parents from allowing their daughters to play football.
ZWPSL vice-chairperson Lewis Muzhara, a long time sponsor of women’s national teams, welcomed the move. “It’s long overdue. We lost talent because some parents banned their children from women’s football,” he said. Muzhara, who also administers Correctional Queens, plans to create a platform where married players and mothers can share their experiences to show “it is possible to be a woman, mother, wife, and a footballer at the same time.”
Faith Drive Academy founder Mbuya Nelia Musikavanhu urged the league to make Skirts Day compulsory across all clubs. “An athlete should be morally upright, and with the current generation we need initiatives to keep them in line,” she said.
