Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe has vowed to strengthen safety and security measures at sporting venues following the death of a football fan during Monday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the National Sports Stadium.
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Read E-PaperIn a statement issued on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, Sanyatwe said the Government will review and strengthen crowd management protocols, access control measures and emergency response systems across sporting facilities.
The minister said the Government is working with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Sports and Recreation Commission and ZIFA to ensure the incident is fully investigated and the circumstances surrounding the death are established.
“Our objective is clear: to establish the facts and to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated again in any of our sporting venues,” Sanyatwe said.
He said the safety and security of fans, players and officials at all sporting events remains a top priority for the Government.
Sanyatwe also confirmed that some fans sustained injuries during the incident and wished them a speedy and full recovery.
The minister said the Government has already begun processes to ensure the deceased Warriors fan is accorded a decent burial.
The fan died following an incident at the stadium where supporters broke down a gate while attempting to gain entry through unauthorised means, with efforts to disperse the crowd subsequently leading to the fatal incident.
