The new equipment will be available for all MTN Super League and National Division One matches, with FAZ hoping to improve communication among match officials and reduce officiating errors.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has procured modern communication systems for match officials in the MTN Super League and National Division One, with the equipment set to be deployed from this week’s fixtures.
FAZ General Secretary Charles Chakatazya said the acquisition fulfils a commitment made by association president Keith Mweemba during his first address to referees at an elite referees’ course last year.
“Members of the football family may recall that the FAZ President, Mr Keith Mweemba, last year, during his first address to the referees, lamented the lack of communication systems and pledged to provide the devices. This is where we are now. The President promised, and he has delivered,” Chakatazya said.
The equipment includes wireless transceiver units, headsets and charging units designed to improve communication and coordination among match officials.
Chakatazya said the systems would allow referees to communicate in real time, helping them clarify decisions involving fouls, penalties and other potential infringements without unnecessarily disrupting the flow of matches.
The FAZ General Secretary added that the initiative was intended to strengthen teamwork and improve the overall quality and efficiency of officiating.
“There have been complaints about errors in officiating because referees are humans who are prone to making mistakes. But these communication systems will be key in reducing such errors as the equipment will now provide quick verbal check-ins, which are critical in covering blind spots, clarifying close calls and preventing costly misjudgments,” he said.
The new technology is expected to help match officials consult one another more efficiently during matches, potentially reducing misunderstandings and supporting more informed decision-making on the pitch.
Chakatazya confirmed that the equipment would be used during this week’s MTN Super League Week Six fixtures in the 2026 Transitional Season, including the eagerly anticipated Kitwe derby between Power Dynamos and Nkana.
He said the FAZ Referees Department had been tasked with putting the necessary arrangements in place to ensure that all officials appointed to matches in both the Super League and National Division One had access to the equipment.
The introduction of the communication systems marks a step in FAZ’s efforts to strengthen refereeing standards and improve the consistency of match officiating in Zambian football.
