Community

MBABANE – Former football stars have partnered with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to combat gender-based violence (GBV).

The partnership was launched on Monday, March 9, 2026, when the Deputy Prime Minister and former players unveiled a nationwide prevention campaign aimed at engaging men and boys.

The initiative, rolled out with the Umhluma Women and Youth Foundation, will use sport to spread anti-GBV messages and promote gender equality.

Deputy Prime Minister Thuli Dladla said the campaign forms part of the office’s Gender-Based Violence Action Plan adopted in 2023, which emphasises involving men and boys in prevention efforts through sport and community activities.

She said football tournaments, walks and other sporting events would be held across the country to encourage men and boys to take an active role in ending violence against women and girls.

While statistics often identify men and boys as the main perpetrators of violence, Dladla said the campaign aimed to encourage them to become agents of change and champions of gender equality.

“Involving men and boys helps challenge harmful social norms and promotes values such as respect, empathy and accountability,” she said.

Umhluma Women and Youth Foundation Executive Director Lungelo Zulu said the campaign would start with a town-to-town outreach programme, where partners and former football stars will travel around the country spreading anti-GBV messages.

The outreach will culminate in a one-day soccer tournament in May at Mavuso Sports Centre in the Manzini Region.

Teams will feature former players from traditional clubs including Manzini Wanderers, Mbabane Swallows, Mbabane Highlanders, Moneni Pirates and Denver Sundowns.

Zulu said the tournament would rotate between regions annually to sustain the campaign.

He added that public transport operators had also joined the initiative to amplify the message. Women Unlimited will supply bibs carrying anti-GBV messages for operators to wear throughout the campaign.

Several organisations pledged support during the launch. Instacash will provide jerseys for the legends, while other partners include Ant Construction, Orchard Insurance, Cardo Square, SOS Children’s Villages, Viva Water, the Stukie Motsa Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Zulu said although civil society groups had called for GBV to be declared a national disaster, campaigns like this were vital in sustaining prevention efforts.

Representatives of the football legends and partner organisations also stressed the importance of involving men in conversations about violence, noting that football was a powerful platform to bring men together.

Dladla welcomed the initiative, saying former players would serve as role models for young boys, particularly those growing up in communities where violence may be normalised.

She also praised the inclusion of transport operators, saying the campaign would help remind men of their responsibilities within families and communities.

Former football stars have partnered with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to combat gender-based violence (GBV).