New law to curb corruption in sport

CABINET has approved the proposed Zimbabwe Sport Integrity Bill which aims to curtail corrupt activities in sports, including match fixing and competition manipulation.

The idea of a match fixing and doping law was mooted in 2015 but had failed to be developed over the years.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa recently said the Bill seeks to eliminate sports corruption and competition manipulation, among other things.

“Cabinet considered and approved Principles on the Proposed Zimbabwe Sport Integrity Bill from the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation. The Bill seeks to provide for the elimination of sport corruption, doping, competition manipulation and illegal betting among other vices.

“It will also allow Zimbabwe to, inter alia: work with other governments, regionally and internationally to combat doping, competition manipulation and corruption in sport by complying with the Olympic Charter, UNESCO Convention on the Elimination of Doping in Sport, Statute of the African Union Sports Council, among other global integrity guidelines in sport to which Zimbabwe is a signatory; and come up with an institutional framework to assist in the administration and management of athletes and athletes support personnel,” Mutsvangwa said.