Fan Dies in Stampede at National Sports Stadium During Zimbabwe vs DR Congo Qualifier
A football fan died in a stampede at the National Sports Stadium on Monday evening, as Zimbabwe hosted the Democratic Republic of Congo in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier — casting a shadow over what should have been a night of celebration for the Warriors’ faithful.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the fatal incident occurred at Gate Number Two at around 6:30pm, shortly after kickoff. According to police, the tragedy involved a police public order vehicle and a pedestrian, with one person losing their life amid the chaos of the stampede.
In a statement, the ZRP confirmed that investigations into the incident are already underway. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that swift and comprehensive investigations are currently underway after a fatal incident involving a police public order vehicle and a pedestrian at the National Sports Stadium, where one person died during a stampede at gate number two at 1830 hours at the beginning of the soccer match between Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo,” the statement read.
The identity of the deceased had not been released at the time of publication.
Fresh Questions Over Stadium Safety
The tragedy has reignited concerns over crowd management and fan safety at the National Sports Stadium, particularly during high-stakes matches that draw large crowds. Police have moved to reassure the public that the investigation will be thorough and impartial. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police assures the public of objective and comprehensive investigations to find out exactly what transpired,” the ZRP said.
Monday’s events bring back painful memories for Zimbabwean football fans, coming almost seven years after another supporter died in a stampede at the very same venue during a Warriors qualifier against Congo Brazzaville back in 2019 — a tragic reminder that safety concerns at the stadium are far from new.
As Zimbabwean football authorities and law enforcement work to establish exactly what happened, focus will inevitably turn to what changes, if any, are needed to prevent similar tragedies at future matches. Diskiafrika will provide updates as more information becomes available.
