Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE ZIFA executive committee have given a huge statement of intent on their commitment to weeding out inefficiency across the game after suspending three top referees for gross incompetence in the ongoing Premier Soccer League season.
For some time, the local game has been tainted and dragged into disrepute by some incidents of biased and corrupt officiating.
There have also been cases where coaches and players get reprimanded for questioning poor officiating, some of which have either aided teams to titles or condemned others to relegation.
Yesterday ZIFA sent a big message to this constituency by censuring the trio of Lawrence Zimondi and Nelson Meke for four games, with Tichaona Mbire banned from officiating for half-a-dozen matches.
Mbire was red-flagged for the manner in which he handled the contentious game between log leaders MWOS and Manica Diamonds at Ngoni.
MWOS, on 23 points in 11 games, are yet to taste defeat.
But there have been some contestations over the officiating in some of their games, including their last assignment at home against TelOne, which was a drama-filled encounter in which the referee Trinity Dirwai hogged the limelight for the wrong reasons.
The match ended 2-2 with MWOS rallying from two goals.
Dirwai helped influence the outcome of the game after dishing out two red cards to TelOne players — to Allan Chapanduka and Kudakwashe Nyakudanga in comical fashion.
It has emerged that the ZIFA Referees Committee are still to determine Dirwai’s fate amid indications that he could also be handed a lengthy suspension.
While Dirwai awaits his fate, Mbire has paid the price for the dubious officiating, which also left Manica Diamonds coach Jairos Tapera livid.
In the game in question, Manica Diamonds were well on their way to pocketing the maximum points as they led for most of the game through an outrageous goal scored by Ask Rupande. As Tapera’s men threw in all their game-management methods, Mbire decided to award a penalty to MWOS, adjudging that a Manica Diamonds defender, who was hit by the ball on his back, had handled inside the area.
Salif Cheya stepped up and scored from the spot to earn his team a controversial point.
But Mbire wasn’t done just yet, as he also denied what appeared to be a genuine goal for the Gem Boys, which dampened an otherwise fine shift by the Mutare miners.
Mbire will now have to reflect on his conduct in the six weeks that he will be suspended.
In the same vein, Meke will, for the next four match days, be on the side-lines learning a thing or two after killing the competitive spirit in the game between Scottland and Herentals College at Rufaro on May 1.
Herentals lost that match 1-0, but Meke, rather than Scottland, appeared to be their main impediment due to his incompetence.
In one incident, the referee decided to blow his whistle when Herentals forward John Zhuwawu was fouled just outside the box when the Students felt that he was supposed to play the advantage rule and let Tino Benza pull the trigger.
Zimondi will serve a four-match ban for failing to properly handle the 2025 edition of the Battle of the Cities clash between Highlanders and CAPS United at Barbourfields, which Bosso won 2-0.
He was also at fault in the game between Ngezi Platinum Stars and Yadah Stars, which the latter claimed on a 2-1 scoreline.
In a statement yesterday, ZIFA said they were fully committed to upholding high professional standards.
“ZIFA remains committed to upholding the integrity and credibility of the game. All match officials are expected to maintain the highest levels of professionalism, consistency, and competence.
“Corrective action will be taken wherever standards are not met.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) wishes to inform stakeholders and the general public of the suspension of three match officials due to performances that fell significantly short of the standards expected in top-tier matches,” read the statement.
“Following a thorough review and assessment by the ZIFA Referees Committee, the following decisions have been taken:
- Lawrence Zimondi: Referee Zimondi has been suspended from officiating Premier League matches from Matchday 11 to Matchday 14 (four weeks).
This decision follows substandard officiating in two matches: Highlanders vs CAPS United on April 13, 2025, at Barbourfields Stadium Ngezi Platinum vs Yadah on April 30, 2025, at Baobab Stadium
- Nelson Meke: Referee Meke has also been suspended from officiating Premier League matches from Matchday 11 to Matchday 1 (four weeks). The suspension stems from poor performance during the Scotland vs Herentals match played on May 1, 2025 at Rufaro Stadium.
- Tichaona Mbire: Referee Mbire has been suspended from officiating Premier League matches from Matchday 11 to Matchday 16 (six weeks). This action follows an unsatisfactory performance in the MWOS vs Manica Diamonds fixture held on May 1, 2025 at Ngoni Stadium.”
