Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
CHIPINGE District’s rural southern part earned Premiership promotion — thanks to GreenFuel’s corporate investment in ethanol production, but the same success has eluded the urban part, where even Division One football titles are now a distant memory.
In its heyday, Gaza Stadium was a hub of talent production, and this urban part of Chipinge produced notable players like Eddie Dube, Zebron Simango, and Lovemore Mapuya.
Other lesser-known, but talented players from the area include the late Precious Makhuyana, Millers Simango, and Shupikai ‘‘Kojak’’ Tembo, to name, but a few.
In recent years, Gaza Stadium’s painful deterioration has been a stark reflection of the declining standards of football in this part of Chipinge.
As the saying goes — Hope is the last thing to lose!
Now, the birth of Justice Lions FC has brought hope to many in this part of Chipinge, reviving memories of the good old days when football stars emerged, and the community eagerly anticipated Sunday afternoon matches.
Currently sitting third in the ZIFA Manicaland Division 2B log standings, Justice Lions FC has won two matches and lost one in their campaign for promotion to the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Division One League.
Their victories include a 4-0 win against Chimanimani Bullets and 1-0 win against Ngorima FC.
However, they initially lost 1-2 to Rekaofela in the Mabheka tea farming area.
So, who is Justice Lions FC?
Justice Lions FC is a football club based in Chipinge urban, formed in 2018 by club chairman, Tariro Tazvitya, a legal practitioner.
Tazvitya said: “The reason behind forming the club was purely philanthropic — to provide youths with exposure through soccer in Chipinge town, shielding them from prevalent drug abuse and unemployment.
“Since its inception, our ultimate goal was to compete in the country’s professional leagues. However, our ambition was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and financial constraints.
“In 2025, we successfully registered and began competing in the ZIFA Division 2B League. Previously, we participated in the Chipinge Social League, comprising 14 teams. We won the league in 2022, and after CJSA won in 2023, we emerged as runners-up in 2024.”
Chipinge urban boasts several vibrant and competent football clubs, but unfortunately, funding remains a significant challenge.
However, in a positive development, three local clubs — Justice Lions, Al Gaza, and Wadai Waenda, owned by Admore Chirairai — successfully registered for Division Two.
“This is a remarkable achievement, considering Division Two football has not been played in Chipinge town for a long time. As for Justice Lions, we continue to work hard despite the daily challenges. Our goal remains unchanged — to be a beacon of hope for all the youth out there,” said Tazvitya.
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