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to the final phase of the Asiagate scam that rocked local football in the last few years.
The judge – who has previously worked in the Zimbabwe Cricket structures – will lead a seven-member committee that includes former Sport and Recreation Commission chairman Gibson Mashingaidze, ex-Zimbabwe Republic Police assistant commissioner Emmanuel Chimwanda, legal practitioners Tererai Gunje, John Reid- Rowland and Lewis Uriri and former Fifa panel referee Kenny Sigoba.
Ebrahim’s committee, which was commissioned by Zifa president Cuthbert Dube has been tasked with conducting hearings for individuals implicated in the Asiagate scam, record evidence from the individuals and pronounce sanctions for individuals in terms of the Fifa and Zifa statutes.
Dube, flanked by fellow board members Mavis Gumbo, Elliot Kasu and Nigel Munyati told the media at the function to unveil the committee that Ebrahim and his commissioners would provide a platform for players, coaches, administrators and other officials named in the Ndumiso Gumede report with a platform to clear their names.
“The Zifa board resolved that we appoint an independent disciplinary ad-hoc committee to conduct hearings for individuals fingered in the match-fixing and betting scandal report upon which individuals will be able to be cleared or otherwise in respect of their involvement in the scandal.
“The disciplinary committee’s terms of reference comprise but is not limited to the following:
- Draw up their calendar of activities
- Appoint each other into positions of vice-chairman, secretary and committee members
- Conduct hearings for individuals
- Record all the evidence from the individuals
- Pronounce sanctions for individuals in terms of Zifa and Fifa statutes
- Submit findings and recommendations to the Zifa board for enforcement of sanctions
- All communication shall be through the Zifa president”.
Ebrahim in accepting to chair the committee, however, warned that their task would not be completed overnight as it would include interviews with at least 80 players and a host of coaches and officials who were named in the 162-page Gumede report.
The 74-year-old retired judge said in accepting the assignment given to them by Zifa, his committee was not under any illusions about the task before them.
“I want to assure all that my committee will not shed its responsibility.
“I have to say that our committee is faced with a mammoth task in investigating the scam which involves up to 80 players and also the officials involved in the administration of the game . . . it is a massive task.
“The period under investigation spans over three years and there will be need to call witnesses from outside the country and including players.
“Some of us are already seized with other duties and we will endeavour to complete the work as soon as we can.
“This probe will not end overnight, it will take some time.
“We have been appointed as a special judicial body and I know that members of the media will want to ask questions from time to time but ask that those questions be directed to Dr Dube so that we will not undermine the process,” Ebrahim said.
The judge also hinted that his committee which would apart from the Asiagate report also use the Zifa statutes and the Fifa Disciplinary Code as guiding principles would use much of the off-season period on the domestic scene between November and March next year to carry out much of their work.
Dube also stressed that anyone fingered in the Gumede report “remained innocent until proven guilty, therefore it must not be interpreted to mean that any individual named in Asiagate is guilty”.
The Zifa boss, however, warned Ebrahim and his colleagues to expect some tough challenges “including being unpopular in some circles” as they go about their mandate to bring the Asiagate case to finality.
Dube also stressed his board’s “zero-tolerance to match-fixing and betting” and said they were also closely following events in the local game to ensure the Premiership and Division One leagues are not spoilt by
allegations of match-fixing as they canter towards the end of their 2011 championships.
“We are keeping a watchful eye on the Premier League, First Division and other leagues to keep our game clean.
“Be warned those who are trying to fix local matches, your days are numbered.
“We appreciate that match- fixing and betting is a global cancer that shall forever hound us and at some opportune time we shall invoke our statutes to cause for the establishment of a permanent Ethics committee which shall be one of our judicial bodies and our watchdog against match fixing and betting and other corrupt misdeeds,” Dube said.
“The committee, using Zifa and Fifa statutes and code of ethics, shall establish through the hearings which persons committed crimes against football and what kind of sanctions should be preferred against the individuals concerned.
“Football is a school of life, according to the Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
“It is an institution governed by strict ground rules which help hone the young footballers into responsible citizens.
“Those found transgressing the ethics of the institution are mercilessly excommunicated.
“Football is more than just a game.
“Football can be defaced by selfish, shameless, corrupt, unpatriotic and morally bankrupt individuals for a mere thirty pieces of silver.
“Football cannot be auctioned by incorrigible criminals for dirty lucre.
“Football stands for life and anyone who wants to destroy football is no better than a murderer.
“Match-fixing and betting are a fatal cocktail of corrupt practices and we should fiercely denounce such kinds of misdeeds,” Dube said.
Dube also expressed confidence in the members of the committee whom he said were of diverse backgrounds that are important for the task they have been given adding that the committee was free to co-opt any additional people if they so wish.
Apart from Sigoba, Gunje has also served football having been chairman of the Zifa appeals committee last year as well as chairing the association’s disciplinary committee between 2006 and 2010.
Gunje also sat on the Zifa constitutional review committee in 2006 while retired policemen Chimwanda served in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Reid-Rowland worked for Legal Resources foundation and authored a book titled “Criminal Procedure in Zimbabwe”.
Uriri, who will act as the prosecutor during the committee’s proceedings, came to football prominence at the height of the CAPS United versus CAPS Holdings dispute in which PSL chairman Twine Phiri fought tenaciously to retain the acronym CAPS for his top-flight league franchise.
Bongani Ndlovu