Zimbabwe Cricket ban fan over match-fixing

Sports Reporter

A LOCAL cricket supporter has been slapped with a five-year ban after unsuccessfully trying to get a Zimbabwe international player involved in a spot-fixing deal.

Edward Walter Mupangano, a 27-year-old from Harare, was banned by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) after approaching Luke Jongwe in August last year in the hope of introducing him to an Indian bookmaker.

It is believed the bookmaker wanted Jongwe to bowl in a pre-arranged manner during an international match in return for US$7 000.

“The facilitator himself would allegedly receive US$3 000 if the planned corrupt activity was successful. Jongwe immediately reported the approach,” said ZC in a statement.

Following an investigation, Mupangano pleaded guilty to a charge of violating Zimbabwe Cricket’s Anti-Corruption Code and was banned for five years from all ZC-affiliated cricket venues and events.

“ZC believes cases such as this demonstrate the urgent need for Zimbabwe to have a legal instrument to make fixing and any other sporting corruption a criminal offence.

“It is our view that harsh sanctions, including custodial sentences, will go a long way in helping cricket to curb one of the biggest threats to its credibility,” ZC chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani said.

“Criminalising match-fixing and spot-fixing will send a strong warning to offenders and would-be offenders that corruption has no place in cricket and those who engage in it should be jailed or put out of the game.”