Government Condemns Political Chants At Nkana Stadium
The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts has condemned political chanting at Saturday’s league match between Nkana FC and Makeni All Stars at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe. It warned that bringing politics into football grounds could provoke rival groups and lead to violence.
Ministry Permanent Secretary Mr Kangwa Chileshe said the conduct of some supporters during the match on 10 October was unacceptable and had no place in sport. He said the game should unite people across political and social divides.
“Sport must not be used as a platform for advancing political agendas,” Mr Chileshe said.
“Such conduct undermines the spirit of sport and risks turning football grounds into centres of political confrontation.”
The match was played at the Wusakile venue. Supporters were reported to have sung “Pe Lampi”, a campaign song for detained opposition figures Mr Brian Mundubile and Mr Makebi Zulu. They were also reported to have switched on their mobile phone lights after the stadium floodlights went off.
The Ministry’s statement did not name the slogans or the individuals involved. It described the incident only as the chanting of political slogans by some individuals.
Mr Chileshe said allowing political activity at football matches could provoke rival groups, creating unnecessary tension and possibly violence. He said stadiums must stay safe for players, officials and supporters, and that nobody should behave in a way that threatens peace and order at sporting events.
The Permanent Secretary called on the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), the Zambia Premier League and all clubs to act firmly. He asked them to caution supporters, step up sensitisation and make sure that political chants and activities are not tolerated at matches.
He said clubs must take responsibility for how their supporters behave. The scenes at Nkana Stadium, he said, must not be allowed to set a precedent.
Mr Chileshe described sport as a national asset that must be protected from political interference. He warned supporters against repeating the behaviour and said football grounds must remain places where Zambians come together to support their teams, not venues for political mobilisation or confrontation.
The ruling party had already spoken out before the Ministry’s statement. United Party for National Development (UPND) Copperbelt Provincial Chairperson Mr Elisha Matambo, a former Copperbelt Minister, called the scenes at Nkana disgraceful in a statement issued on Sunday.
He said individuals with political agendas had turned a football match into a political rally. He described what happened as “hooliganism dressed in political colours.”
Mr Matambo said the UPND would not tolerate such conduct at any sporting venue in the province, including Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola. He said similar chants had been reported at several matches, including Zambia’s fixture against Togo.
He called on the Zambia Police Service, FAZ, stadium management and security agencies to identify and deal with those responsible. He also urged UPND members on the Copperbelt to report anyone they saw chanting, displaying political symbols or causing trouble at sporting events.
The incident comes at a tense time after the general election. Mr Mundubile and Mr Zulu remain in detention, and opposition voices have cited their detention when questioning the Government’s description of the polls as peaceful.
On the pitch, Nkana kept their perfect start to the season with a 4-1 win. Makeni took the lead through Emmanuel Silomba in the eighth minute.
Michael Chapota equalised for the hosts deep into first-half stoppage time. Lazarus Kambole scored twice and Nduna Zulu added the fourth in the 82nd minute.
By Sunday evening, FAZ, the Zambia Premier League, Nkana FC and the police had not publicly responded to the Ministry’s call or said what action, if any, would be taken against the supporters.
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