28/07/2026
By Gabriel Sendama
CCTV CAMERAS MUST BECOME MANDATORY IN ZAMBIAN SUPER LEAGUE STADIUMS
Protecting supporters, safeguarding revenue and modernising Zambian football
The reported theft of K181,000 in gate takings from Mufulira Wanderers Football Club at Shinde Stadium must serve as a serious wake-up call for Zambian football.
According to reports, armed criminals allegedly confronted club employees after the match between Mufulira Wanderers and Nchanga Rangers and escaped with approximately K181,000 collected from gate takings. A vehicle that was reportedly intended to transport the money for safekeeping was also taken during the incident.
This was not merely an attack on Mufulira Wanderers. It was an attack on Zambian football, its supporters, employees, sponsors and the hardworking people who contribute money at the gates to support their clubs.
The incident should compel the Zambia Premier League, the Football Association of Zambia, stadium owners, club administrations and other stakeholders to seriously consider making the installation of modern CCTV surveillance systems compulsory at every Super League stadium.
Why do Zambian stadiums need CCTV cameras?
Bushe ama CCTV cameras yaliba expensive nangu yali chipa( cheap)???
The cheapest basic standard one will cost k3000.
If possible, there's no harm in Zambian club's engaging potential stakeholders to assist.
These are some of the projects that supporters can partner with club managements.
But again, why do we really need to install CCTV cameras????
1. To protect gate takings and club property
Football clubs depend heavily on gate revenue to meet operational expenses such as player allowances, transport, accommodation, stadium maintenance and administrative costs.
Where large amounts of cash are collected, counted and transported without proper surveillance, criminals may see an opportunity to strike.
CCTV cameras should cover ticket-selling points, turnstiles, entrances, corridors, offices, cash-counting rooms, car parks and the routes used when money is transferred.
However, cameras alone will not be enough. Clubs must also introduce secure cash-handling procedures, professional security escorts, controlled access to counting rooms and, where possible, electronic and cashless ticketing.
No club should collect hundreds of thousands of kwacha and then depend entirely on manual arrangements to protect it.
2. To identify criminals and support police investigations
A properly installed CCTV system can record the appearance, movements and actions of people entering or leaving a stadium.
Following a robbery, assault, act of vandalism or other offence, investigators may use the footage to identify suspects, vehicles, escape routes and possible accomplices.
Without cameras, investigations may depend mainly on frightened witnesses, conflicting descriptions and incomplete information.
Modern stadium surveillance can also allow security personnel to review incidents and identify individuals involved after an event. FIFA’s stadium safety guidance recognises the value of advanced CCTV systems in monitoring stadium areas and supporting the investigation and identification of people involved in incidents.
3. To reduce crowd trouble and football violence
CCTV cameras can help identify supporters who throw objects, invade the pitch, damage property, fight, threaten match officials or attack opposing fans.
In many cases, innocent supporters and entire clubs are punished because the specific individuals responsible cannot be identified.
Clear camera footage would allow authorities to take action against the actual offenders. This could include stadium bans, prosecution or other disciplinary measures.
Supporters would also be more likely to behave responsibly if they knew that their actions were being recorded.
4. To protect players, referees and officials
Players, coaches, referees and visiting officials must feel safe before, during and after matches.
Cameras should cover dressing-room corridors, tunnels, technical areas, media zones and routes leading to team buses and officials’ vehicles.
This would discourage intimidation, assaults and unauthorised access to restricted areas.
It would also provide evidence when allegations are made against supporters, club officials, security officers or match officials.
5. To protect ordinary supporters
The greatest beneficiaries of improved stadium security would be the supporters.
Families, children, elderly fans and people with disabilities should be able to attend football matches without fearing violence, theft, harassment or uncontrolled crowds.
CCTV monitoring can help security personnel identify overcrowding, blocked exits, dangerous movements and emergencies before they become disasters.
6. To improve accountability among stadium employees
Surveillance should not be aimed only at supporters.
It can also improve accountability among ticket sellers, security officers, cashiers, stadium employees and club officials.
Cameras around entrances and cash-handling areas may help resolve disputes involving attendance figures, ticket sales, unauthorised entry and the handling of match-day revenue.
This would protect honest employees while discouraging possible internal misconduct.
Who would benefit from CCTV installation?
The installation of CCTV cameras would benefit:
- Football supporters and their families.
- Players, coaches and match officials.
- Club employees and volunteers.
- Stadium security personnel and the Zambia Police Service.
- Club owners, sponsors and commercial partners.
- The Zambia Premier League and the Football Association of Zambia.
- Broadcasters, journalists and other accredited personnel.
- Communities surrounding football stadiums.
- The government, through improved public safety and law enforcement.
Ultimately, the whole football industry would benefit.
A proposal to the Zambia Premier League
The Zambia Premier League should consider introducing CCTV surveillance as part of its stadium licensing requirements for every Super League club.
Implementation could be done in phases, especially for clubs with limited financial resources. The league, FAZ, stadium owners, sponsors, local authorities and corporate partners could cooperate to support installation.
At a minimum, every stadium should have cameras covering:
- All public entrances and exits.
- Ticket-selling and ticket-scanning points.
- Turnstiles and perimeter gates.
- Cash-counting and administrative offices.
- Players’ tunnels and dressing-room corridors.
- Technical areas and the perimeter of the pitch.
- Grandstands and supporter sections.
- Car parks and surrounding access roads.
- Emergency exits and evacuation routes.
The footage must be securely stored, accessible only to authorised personnel and released to police or other authorities through clearly established procedures. Privacy, data protection and responsible access must be respected.
Technology must be accompanied by better systems
Installing cameras without trained operators, reliable power, secure storage and proper maintenance would achieve very little.
Each stadium should therefore have a trained CCTV control team, backup electricity, sufficient recording capacity and clear procedures for preserving evidence after an incident.
Clubs should also reduce their dependence on physical cash.
Electronic ticketing, mobile-money payments, card payments and pre-purchased digital tickets would reduce the amount of money held at stadium offices after matches.
Where cash remains necessary, counting should take place in a restricted and secure room. Money should then be transported using professional security arrangements—not ordinary club vehicles with limited protection.
Shinde Stadium must become a turning point
The reported loss of K181,000 should not be treated as an isolated Mufulira Wanderers matter and then forgotten after a few days of discussion.
It must become a turning point for stadium security across Zambia.
Today it may be Mufulira Wanderers. Tomorrow it could be another club, another stadium or, even worse, an incident in which innocent employees or supporters lose their lives.
Zambian football cannot continue operating with modern ambitions but outdated security systems.
The Zambia Premier League must take leadership by developing minimum CCTV and cash-handling standards for all Super League stadiums. Club licensing should not focus only on the condition of the pitch, dressing rooms and seating capacity. Security infrastructure must also become a priority.
CCTV cameras will not prevent every crime, but they can deter offenders, provide evidence, improve accountability and help security personnel respond more effectively.
The money paid by supporters at the gates belongs to the football club and must be protected. The lives of employees, players, officials and supporters are even more valuable.
The time to modernise security in Zambian stadiums is now—not after another robbery, another riot or another avoidable tragedy.
Note:
The pics are AI Generated with CCTV cams and have just been used for illustration purposes only.
