Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AS Zimbabwe’s Division One football leagues reach the final stretch, dark clouds are gathering over the country’s lower tiers, where dreams of promotion to the Premier Soccer League are increasingly being tainted by allegations of bribery, match fixing and corruption.
In the Northern Region, where N’ombeyawora and Agama are separated by just a single point, a bribery scandal has erupted that threatens to shake the very foundations of the league.
Agama’s tense 1–0 win over Chinhoyi Rangers last weekend should have been routine. Instead, it has triggered an uproar that now hangs over the promotion race like a dark cloud.
Zimpapers Sports Hub is in possession of explosive audio recordings captured inside the Chinhoyi Rangers dressing room minutes after the final whistle, furious players shouting, accusing executives of “selling the match,” and demanding answers about missing cash.
According to insiders, Rangers’ camp was approached before the match by individuals linked to Agama, who allegedly offered over US$4 000 for the team to “ease off” and not resist defeat. The money, sources claim, was delivered to one of the club’s directors.
“The deal was that we would get the money before the game,” said one player who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Some people wanted us to just play soft and lose. But the boys said, no, we won’t throw the match. That’s when everything fell apart.”
The situation reportedly turned chaotic when players later discovered that the alleged payment had not been shared. The recordings capture them confronting officials, demanding to know where the money went and who made the deal.
Another source said N’ombeyawora had also promised to reward the team if they managed to beat Agama, creating a tug of war of incentives that left Chinhoyi divided and the match shrouded in suspicion.
“Agama paid upfront,” the source explained. “N’ombeyawora said we’d get our reward only if we beat Agama. But when the players refused to lose, some officials panicked. After the game, people started accusing each other of pocketing the cash.”
The fallout turned physical. Players clashed with a member of the executive, accusing him of hiding the money. Chairs were reportedly overturned. One voice in the audio can be heard shouting,
“You took the money! You think we don’t know?”
The alleged go between has since gone into hiding, while the Chinhoyi Rangers hierarchy has remained silent.
Efforts to obtain comment from Agama, Chinhoyi Rangers, and the Northern Region Soccer League were unsuccessful yesterday.
However, Northern Region chairman Martin Kweza said his office would act once a formal complaint was lodged.
“We will not ignore any credible evidence,” he said. “If there are recordings or witnesses, they should come forward so that due process can take place.”
With only two rounds remaining, and N’ombeyawora still clinging to a one point lead, the Northern Region’s race to the top has become a contest not just of football skill, but of moral collapse.
Down south, Bulawayo Chiefs’ promotion bid is also under scrutiny after Nkayi United accused them of fielding an ineligible player, striker Anesu Saiti, who allegedly featured for two clubs within the same half of the season.
Nkayi United lodged a formal protest, arguing that Saiti played for Bulawayo City before being moved to Chiefs during the July transfer window but appeared in matches before he was officially cleared to play.
ZIFA Southern Region spokesperson Blessing Mbwanda confirmed the case has been referred to the Disciplinary Committee, saying the outcome could affect the destiny of the championship.
Nkayi United official Tedius Ngwenya said, “It’s unusual for a player to feature for two teams in one half of the season. This undermines the integrity of the competition.”
If found guilty, Chiefs could face heavy sanctions, including forfeiture of points, potentially reshaping the Southern Region title race.
In the Central Region, the situation is no cleaner. The league has been rocked by an “identity switch” scandal and accusations of corporate influence in the promotion race.
Hardrock lead the standings just ahead of Shesham, but controversy erupted after Hardrock’s player Tanyaradzwa Tsiga was accused of using two different identities, one as Tsiga and another as Ephany Gwawawa with conflicting birth dates.
Central Region chairperson Patrick Hill confirmed that investigations are underway and the player’s licence has been withdrawn pending the outcome.
The region has also faced claims that companies linked to club owners were donating kits to rival teams, allegedly to sway results. Hill dismissed those claims, saying no evidence of wrongdoing had been presented.
Amid the growing tension, Sheasham themselves dramatically withdrew from the league, accusing match officials of bias and alleging “systematic corruption.” The club’s chairperson, lawyer Reginald Chidawanyika, claimed referees were being compromised and that the league was “no longer a fair competition.”
ZIFA has since intervened, insisting Sheasham remain part of the league until due processes are completed.
From the Eastern to the Southern regions, the same story repeats itself, clubs accusing each other of cheating, executives trading allegations of pay offs, and regional administrators battling to maintain order.
The scandals have cast a long shadow over ZIFA’s ongoing efforts to rebuild public trust after years of dysfunction.
With thousands of dollars, careers, and community pride tied to the dream of promotion, teams are pushing beyond the limits and in some cases, crossing the line.
