The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Tuesday, November 4, 1991 — The Bulawayo City Council will take urgent measures to ensure that ugly incidences like the one that occurred at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday when 90 people were injured in a stampede, do not happen again, the Mayor, Alderman Nelson Sidanile, said yesterday.

Speaking at Mpilo Central Hospital when he visited 18 people who were injured in a stampede when spectators sought cover from rain, Ald Sidanile said the council would do everything to make its stadia safe.

Ald Sidanile expressed sorrow that such a large number of people had been injured. Most of those injured were treated for head injuries, abdominal pains, broken ribs, arms and legs. One person was treated for stab wounds. He was stabbed after the match when a fight broke out over which was the better team between Highlanders Football Club and Dynamos FC.

Relating the events from his hospital bed, one of the injured, Cde Crispen Mutsamwa (29), said he was trying to run for cover from the rain when the rails on the stairs leading to the back of the eastern stand suddenly snapped under pressure, resulting in people falling on him. His leg was broken and a large piece of flesh was torn off from his leg by the rails.

The only woman victim admitted at Mpilo, Cde Abbie Nyoni (35), said the surging crowd broke her leg when they trampled over her after she had fallen. From the hospital, the mayor went to Barbourfileds Stadium where he was joined by the Town Clerk.

The engineer who drew the plans for the eastern grand stand was also present to assess the damage.