Blessing Nduku
In a move aimed at improving the quality of refereeing in the country, the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has taken a firm stance against referees who fail to meet the required standards, the association has announced.
In a statement by the ZIFA Media and Communication department, referees Lloyd Mapanje, Grace Gimo and assistant referee Claris Simango announced the trio’s suspension.
“Disciplinary measures have been taken against three match officials following assessments of their recent performances,” the statement reads.
“Referee Llyod Mapanje and assistant referee Claris Simango were both sanctioned for their performance in the Dynamos vs Yadah match at Rufaro Stadium on 19 June 2025. Referee Lloyd Mapanje is suspended from officiating Premier League matches from match day 17 to match day 20. This follows his performance, which was reported by the Match Commissioner as not meeting the expected ZIFA standards,” ZIFA stated.
“Assistant referee Claris Simango’s performance on the same game was assessed as not meeting the expected level of officiating,” ZIFA added.
“Referee Grace Gimo was suspended from matchday 16 to match day 19 after overseeing the match between Green Fuel and TelOne at Green Fuel Arena on 14 June 2025. Her performance was found to be below the ZIFA required standard,” said ZIFA.
All three referees were suspended under paragraph 21 of the referees’ code of conduct.
The football association stated that the move was necessary to protect the integrity of the league and to ensure that officials are held to a high standard.
“ZIFA emphasises the critical role that match officials play in maintaining the credibility of the game and reiterates its expectation that all referees and assistant referees consistently demonstrate fairness, competence and professionalism,” reads the statement.“
The disciplinary action serves as a wake-up call for referees to improve their performance and adhere to the rules, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of Zimbabwean football.
