Zimbabwe Proposes Moving Gambling Regulator to Sports Ministry
Zimbabwe – 10 November 2026 – www.zonadeazar.com Zimbabwe’s Parliament is considering a proposal to transfer oversight of lotteries and gambling activities to the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, aiming to allocate a greater share of industry revenue to national sports development.
The initiative would move the Lotteries and Gaming Board (LGB), currently operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, while introducing a mandatory allocation of gambling tax revenue to finance sporting facilities and recreational programmes.
Proposal to Reform Gambling Regulation
The initiative was presented by Farai Jere, Chairperson of Parliament’s Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Portfolio Committee, during the 2027 Pre-Budget Seminar held in Bulawayo.
Jere argued that sports betting generates considerable revenue through sporting competitions and organisations, yet the sports sector receives an insufficient share of the financial benefits.
The legislator, who also owns CAPS United Football Club, believes a stronger relationship should be established between gambling activities and sports funding.
Redistribution of Gambling Revenue
A central element of the proposal involves establishing a legally defined percentage of gambling revenue specifically allocated to sports development.
The funding would include proceeds from the gambling tax introduced in 2025.
The proposed mechanism would support sporting infrastructure, recreational programmes and development projects through transparent systems of revenue collection and distribution.
Although no specific percentage has been announced, the parliamentary committee aims to establish a stable funding source for the sports sector.
Sports Betting Taxation
The discussion comes amid significant changes to Zimbabwe’s gambling taxation framework.
In January 2025, the Government introduced a 10% tax on sports bettors’ gross winnings.
The rate subsequently increased to 25% from 1 January 2026, raising the tax burden on winnings generated through sports betting.
The parliamentary proposal seeks to ensure that part of this revenue contributes directly to national sports development.
Support From the Speaker of Parliament
The proposal received backing from Jacob Mudenda, Speaker of Parliament, who agreed with Sports Minister Anselem Sanyatwe that lotteries and gambling oversight should fall under the Sports Ministry.
Mudenda argued that linking gambling administration with the ministry responsible for sport would be consistent with international regulatory practices.
Support from senior officials has strengthened discussions surrounding a potential institutional restructuring.
Home Affairs Minister Opposes the Transfer
The initiative has also generated disagreement within the Government.
Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe opposed transferring the regulator and defended the progress achieved under the current administrative framework.
According to Kazembe, improvements in the performance of the Lotteries and Gaming Board are the result of stronger leadership and more effective management.
He argued that the regulator could provide financial support to the sports sector without changing its ministerial oversight.
Previous Calls for Sports Funding
Discussions about using gambling revenue to finance sport had already emerged in October 2026.
At that time, Sports Ministry Permanent Secretary Nicholas Moyo proposed directing betting revenue towards sporting infrastructure and athlete development programmes.
Zimbabwe’s existing legislation also provides for a Lotteries and Gaming Fund, which can finance approved sporting and recreational activities through the Sports and Recreation Commission.
The new proposal aims to strengthen this mechanism by establishing a legally mandated allocation of gambling revenue.
Next Steps and Regulatory Impact
The proposed transfer of the Lotteries and Gaming Board has not yet been approved and would require legal and administrative changes.
If implemented, the reform could reshape Zimbabwe’s gambling regulatory structure while establishing a more direct financial relationship between the betting industry and sporting organisations.
Discussions are expected to continue as part of the 2027 budget process, when authorities may determine whether the initiative should progress towards legislative reform.
Edited by: Cristobal R.
