By McGeorge Mbare
THE Confederation of African Football has appointed several Zimbabwean match officials for CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup fixtures, as well as an international AFCON 2027 qualifier.
The appointments were confirmed by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) in a statement dated Monday, 7 September 2026.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association is pleased to announce a series of appointments of Zimbabwean referees and match officials by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for upcoming continental club and international fixtures,” the ZIFA statement reads.
The first Zimbabwean refereeing quartet comprises Lawrence Zimondi, Tafadzwa Nkala, Polite Mthunzi Dube and Thabani Ruzario, with Ruzario serving as the Fourth Official.
Zimondi will lead the team as the referee, assisted by Nkala and Dube.
The quartet will take charge of the CAF Confederation Cup encounter between ASAS Djibouti Télécom of Djibouti and Zed FC of Egypt at Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo on 12 September.
The second Zimbabwean officiating team will handle the CAF Champions League match between Liabatho FC of Lesotho and C.F.F.A. of Madagascar at Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg.
Owen Manenda has been appointed as the referee, assisted by Luckson Mhara and Edgar Rumeck, while Brighton Chimene will serve as the Fourth Official.
Chimene will later take charge of the TotalEnergies AFCON 2027 Qualifier between Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on 25 September.
Chimene will be assisted by Mhara and Rumeck, with Manenda serving as the Fourth Official.
Zimbabwe will also be represented in match administration through Norman Matemera, who has been appointed Match Commissioner for two CAF assignments in Zambia.
Matemera will oversee the CAF Champions League fixture between Power Dynamos and Al Merrikh in Ndola on September 12.
He will also serve as Match Commissioner for the TotalEnergies AFCON 2027 Qualifier between Zambia and Togo at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on 29 September.
In an interview with Ziyah News Network, ZIFA Match Commissioner Phathutshedzo Munyai said the appointments should serve as a major source of motivation for young referees in the Central Region Soccer League and Beitbridge.
“Seeing these guys being appointed for big matches of such calibre, our young referees from Beitbridge and the Central Region Soccer League should be motivated and see that it is possible to progress to higher levels and achieve historic officiating appointments,” Munyai said.
The appointments are significant for Zimbabwean football, as the officials gain valuable international experience that can contribute to improving the standard of officiating in the local game.