FIFA bans use of Harare stadium

Meanwhile, officials, survivors and rights organisations said that the stampede could have been avoided if police had not over reacted.

8220;The police reacted far too extensively,8221; said Health Minister Timothy Stamps.

Police turned tear gas on spectators on Sunday when disgruntled Zimbabwe fans threw bottles and cans at the National Stadium pitch after South Africa scored their second goal of the World Cup qualifying match.

Panicked fans rushed for the narrow exits, trampling 12 people to death and injuring many others in the worst sports tragedy in the country8217;s history.

A thirteenth victim died in Harare8217;s Parirenyatwa hospital on Monday.

8220;I do not think the tear gas was necessary 8230; We are going to pay for this heavily,8221; said Zimbabwe Football Association ZIFA vice chairman Vincent Pamire.

Survivor Alec Fidesi, who lost his six-year old son in the tragedy, said: 8220;It8217;s the ZRP Zimbabwe Republic Police to blame because they were not provoked.8221;

8220;If they had left people to leave the stadium without firing tear gas, nothing would have happened,8221; Fidesi said.

International sports marketing expert Ambrose Mendy, who was at the match, said: 8220;I think the police needlessly overreacted, and I don8217;T think that is in line with doctrines of crowd control.8221;

The deaths 8220;were totally due to the unnecessary and excessive use of force by the police,8221; the non-governmental Zim Rights Organisation said in a statement. Stamps, however, also blamed alcohol for the tragedy.

8220;The real culprit is alcohol 8212; too much alcohol, too much excitement. People go mad,8221; he said.

Fidesi said that alcohol was unusually being advertised over the PA system.

But President Robert Mugabe, in a condolence message, blamed 8220;unnamed members of a planted group that had been taking advantage of a huge crowd to sloganeer and exhibit their symbols.8221;

Witnesses said some spectators chanted the opposition movement for Democratic Change MDC slogan and waved Open Hands 8212; a party symbol.

Former English Premiership star John Fashanu, who has set up a burial fund for the victims, told ZBC Television he had seen youths 8220;doing unusual things with their hands.8221;

8220;Politics and football do not go together,8221; he said.

Mugabe8217;s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union 8211; Patriotic Front ZANU-PF party squeezed out a narrow victory over the MDC in parliamentary elections last month, after a campaign marred by violence in which at least 33 people 8212; mostly opposition supporters 8212; were killed.

In a statement on Monday, the MDC blamed the police for 8220;politically motivated8221; actions.

Sunday8217;s tragedy was 8220;Yet another flagrant violation of the rights of Zimbabweans,8221; the statement said, adding that it followed state-orchestrated violence being aimed at MDC supporters in working-class Harare suburbs.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena, who on Monday rejected accusations of police heavy-handedness, said an enquiry commission had been set up, the state ZIANA news agency reported.

8220;While there has already been finger pointing from various quarters aimed at the police, the complexity of the situation and intertwining events has led to the board of enquiry composed of four senior officials being established,8221; Bvudzijena was quoted as saying.

8220;Nothing is going to be swept under the carpet,8221; Bvudzijena said, adding that the findings of the board would be made public 8220;soon.8221;

Mugabe visited survivors at Parirenyatwa hospital on Monday, ZIANA reported.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Football Association expressed its sympathy to victims and relatives after an emergency meeting on Monday.