Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Government is set to introduce a new Sports Ethics Bill in a major move to combat match-fixing and protect the integrity of Zimbabwean sport. The announcement was made by Permanent Secretary Nicholas Moyo at a Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture stakeholders’ meeting held yesterday in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe has previously grappled with match-fixing scandals, most notably the infamous Asiagate scandal two decades ago, which dragged national teams and top-flight clubs into disrepute. National sides were accused of deliberately losing matches for betting syndicates, severely damaging the Warriors’ international ranking and tarnishing the country’s football reputation. Players were suspended, fined, and later pardoned in efforts to salvage their careers.
Moyo said the Government had taken note of growing concerns regarding ethics in sport.
“It has come to our attention as Government that in Zimbabwean sport of late, there have been issues of match-fixing and manipulation. Fortunately, over the past two years, we have been pushing for the development and enactment of a Sports Ethics Bill. I am quite pleased that it has passed through several processes and has been verified by world anti-doping agencies, as there were concerns around doping,” said Moyo.
He confirmed that the Bill would soon be tabled before Parliament.
“As Government, we are going to ensure that the Ethics Bill passes and is presented to Parliament. The Bill will contribute towards the professionalisation of the sports sector,” he said.
Moyo stressed that the time had come to modernise and commercialise sport in line with national development goals.
“Zimbabwean sport has come of age, and it is time to professionalise. It has reached a point where it must feed directly into Vision 2030. There is no way the sports sector can contribute to the country’s upper-middle-income economy if it is not run professionally, and we want to address issues related to ethics,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary noted that concerns had been raised about possible manipulation in both football and cricket. While no concrete evidence has emerged, he said the Government would soon establish an Anti-Match-Fixing Taskforce.
“Recently, there have been outcries in football and cricket regarding match-fixing. Are they substantiated?
“We are not certain. However, as the ministry, we have been proactive, and very soon the minister will release a statement on the formation of an Anti-Match-Fixing Taskforce. These are measures intended to restore integrity to the sports sector,” said Moyo.
Zimbabwean athletes have long been vulnerable to powerful betting cartels from Asia and the Middle East. During the Asiagate era, Premiership side Monomotapa was even paraded as the national team, while phantom fixtures against European sides were listed on betting platforms despite never taking place.
Globally, calls for clean sport have intensified, and Zimbabwe is under increasing pressure to protect its athletes from similar exploitation.
Moyo was joined by the Ministry’s Chief Director Euginiah Chidakwa and senior official Lovemore Chadenga. Sport and Recreation Commission board member Dave Simba also attended the meeting.
