Story by Wellington Makonese
GOVERNMENT has vowed to clamp down on violence in football, warning that acts of hooliganism will be met with the full force of the law to safeguard the integrity of Zimbabwean sport.
Speaking during a sporting event in Gweru, the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Lieutenant General (Retired) Anselem Sanyatwe, strongly condemned the violence that erupted during the Hardrock FC and Dynamos FC match at Chahwanda Stadium, as well as the assault of a match official by a club executive in Manicaland.
He said such incidents undermine the values of sport and have no place in Zimbabwe.
“Let me point out that as we celebrate the power of sport to unite and inspire, we must also confront the shadow that threatens its integrity. Let me be very clear, discipline is the bedrock upon which true sporting glory is built. Without it, we sacrifice our values for fleeting, reckless emotions.
Zimbabwe is a peaceful nation, home to peace-loving people, and we will not allow the actions of a misguided few to tarnish our national character. We strongly condemn the thuggery witnessed at Chahwanda Stadium during a match between Hardrock FC and Dynamos FC, as well as the assault of a match official by a club executive in Manicaland.
Such barbaric acts are a direct assault on our sporting ethos. Let this be the final warning. These criminal acts will not be tolerated, and the law will take its full and swift course against all perpetrators to ensure our fields remain arenas of excellence, not violence,” he said.
