Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has said it has nothing to do with a recent directive from the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ).
NAAZ had announced that, from 1 January 2026, all athletes would need to pay an annual licence fee of US$7 to take part in any athletics event in the country. The association said US$4 of that would go to the SRC.
But in a statement on 2 October 2025, SRC Acting Director General Peter Mudzimiri said the directive should be ignored, stressing that the government has not issued any instructions on athlete licensing to the SRC or any national association.
Below is the full statement from the Sports and Recreation Commission:
“The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has taken note of a communication issued by the National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) dated 27 September 2025 titled “ANNUAL LICENSE FEE” indicating that from 1 January 2026, all athletes must pay an annual licence fee of USD7.00 (inclusive of SRC Levy of USD4.00) in order to participate in any athletics event in Zimbabwe.
“The communication further notes that the SRC has received this directive on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe.
“The SRC wishes to advise that this communication is FALSE and must be DISREGARDED. The Government has NOT ISSUED any directive on licencing of athletes to the SRC or to any National Association.
“In terms of section 19 (d) of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act [Chapter 25:15] (“the Act”) as read with paragraph 23 of the Second Schedule to the Act, all sporting and recreational activities must be authorised by the Sport and Recreation Commission.
“Further, it is the responsibility of registered National Associations to remit annual levies for their members in terms of section 26 of the Act as read with section 18 of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act (General) Regulations, 1995 (SI 342/1995).”
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