Zifa calls for ban on tribal, racial songs at football matches

The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has called a ban on tribal and racial songs at football matches.

This comes in the aftermath of violence by Highlanders fans which led to the abandonment of a match against bitter rivals Dynamos.

Videos of Dynamos and Highlanders fans appeared on social media. Dynamos is often associated with Shona group of people and Highlanders the Ndebele.

Said Zifa, in a statement, “Going forward, the association is lobbying for an Exclusive Focus Group (EFG) to crackdown on offensive songs and tribal or racial chants which include offensive gestures and displaying of offensive messaging which cause feelings of discomfort and discrimination to rival supporters.”

The sentiments have been echoed by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana, who on his X account said, “We must have a law banning bigoted tribal chants at football matches. I believe these are just as unacceptable as racist chants. They are hate speech and the constitution is clear on it.”

This is not unprecedented. The English Premier League has clamped down on racist songs in the crowd.

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