Sports
Army, Police ‘Vacate Zimbabwe Diamond Fields’
Zimbabwean security forces have started withdrawing from the country’s eastern diamond fields to meet Kimberley Process reforms over human rights abuses, the government said Thursday.
Mines Minister Obert Mpofu said Zimbabwe had complied with more than 90 percent of the requirements set by the global watchdog Kimberley Process, which monitors trade in conflict diamonds.
“We have done a lot since the last review by the (Kimberley Process) as part of our efforts to comply with their recommendations as well as towards achieving and fulfilling compliance,” the state-run Herald quoted Mpofu as saying.
“As is evident at these fields, there are no army officers or police” units, he said during a government tour on Wednesday.
Early this month, Zimbabwe escaped a Kimberley ban despite calls for the country to be suspended and the scheme’s own citation of “unacceptable and horrific violence against civilians by authorities” in the eastern Marange diamond fields.
The global scheme gave Zimbabwe a June 2010 deadline to make reforms to comply with global regulations, rejecting a recommendation by its own investigators made four months ago that Harare face a six-month suspension.
The withdrawal of the army and police comes as the government has licensed two South African firms to operate in Marange.
A representative for the investors said 200 private security guards had replaced the security officials.
“We are taking control of all areas that we have claimed but still working with state security agents in areas where we are still exploring. But they will move as soon as we have secured those areas,” Dave Kassel was quoted as saying in the Herald.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
