adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE Sports Commission have advised the Zimbabwe Netball Association to amend their constitution and allow for registration of other leagues to be run by separate league management committees that will be accountable to the local netball motherbody.
This came out at the meeting held by the country’s supreme sports body on Monday to resolve the impasse between ZINA and the newly-formed Rainbow Amateur Netball League.
The splinter league has been seeking to affiliate to ZINA so that they run their own league separately from the Super League that is run by the national association.
But the two had failed to reach an agreement on the way forward as ZINA questioned the motive behind the formation of the new structure and that saw the Sports Commission intervening to find common ground for the two parties.
They had their initial meetings last month. Sports Commission acting director-general Joseph Muchechetere said they have asked ZINA to accommodate the new structure.
“We met both structures but separately. We agreed that ZINA were going to ensure that they have opened up in order to accommodate the new development. Fortunately it’s provided for in the ZINA constitution to have amateur league. It’s part of their constitution, article nine, it provides for the provision of amateur league.
“So we have said to them ZINA might not be ready at this stage because they might not have the rules and regulations for that league. But because there is need they need to re-look at their constitution.
“On the other side, we have also advised this amateur league because they are not yet registered they are in their interim status, we have advised them it is within their right to apply to ZINA, so that their application is considered for accommodation in the ZINA family.
“Also we were able to advise them that currently as they play that role they should not sound (like they are) working against the national registered organisation. They should not organise counter programmes,” said Muchechetere.
The Sports Commission also released a press statement yesterday outlining the outcomes of the meeting.
“Following the Sports and Recreation Commission’s (SRC) separate meetings with the Zimbabwe Netball Association and Rainbow Netball League yesterday, the following were the outcomes:
“That the Zimbabwe Netball Association was going to amend its constitution and by-laws so that they accommodate the registration of the leagues, which will have separate League Management Committees that will be accountable to ZINA. ZINA as the custodians of netball in the country will supervise all the leagues under its purview.
“That the Rainbow Netball League was to apply for registration with the Zimbabwe Netball Association in line with the established ZINA procedures and to copy the SRC.’’ Muchechetere said.
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