tawandamusarurwa
Friday marked exactly a year after Zimbabwe was suspended by FIFA from all football activities, ostensibly because of “Government interference in the activities of the local football association (ZIFA)’’. Kenya were similarly suspended on the same day — February 24, 2022. The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) had earlier suspended the Felton Kamambo-led ZIFA board on November 16, 2021 on a host of charges, which included misgovernance and failure to abide by the association’s constitution. The SRC have since come up with a raft of measures to reform local football. The Sunday Mail Sports Editor PETROS KAUSIYO (PK) caught up with SRC chairperson Gerald Mlotshwa (GM) for an update on developments in local football administration.
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PK: A lot of people are keen to know about the ZIFA status today and what direction football is taking towards FIFA re-admission?
GM: It is apparent that there are concerted efforts by certain media practitioners and Members of Parliament (MPs) to deliberately misinform the public regarding the situation at ZIFA and, in particular, the temporary suspension of its membership rights by FIFA.
Some of these MPs are not only beneficiaries of the corrupt practices prevalent within ZIFA, but were previously within its leadership structures, presiding over and perpetuating the very rot and mismanagement the SRC presently seeks to eliminate through a series of reforms. There are presently insidious lobbying and other nefarious activities behind the scenes by these persons, in a concerted and frantic effort, to undermine the necessary reform processes within ZIFA.
PK: Can you shed some light on some of those efforts being made to derail the SRC process?
GM: These efforts include the deliberate propagation of distorted positions of both the SRC and FIFA. For the public’s benefit, the position of the SRC through the communication received from FIFA via ZIFA regarding the temporary suspension of its membership is as follows:
- On February 24, 2022, FIFA temporarily suspended ZIFA’s membership of the organisation.
- FIFA Council decided that the lifting of the suspension was subject to the following conditions:
2.1 The repeal of the SRC decision of November 26, 2020 suspending the ZIFA general secretary.
2.2 The repeal of the SRC decision of November 16, 2021 suspending the ZIFA board.
2.3 The repeal of the SRC decision of December 17, 2021 setting up the Restructuring Committee.
2.4 FIFA’s receipt of confirmation from ZIFA and its management, led by president Felton Kamambo and general secretary Joseph Mamutse, that ZIFA and its premises are once more under their full and unconditional control.
2.5 The withdrawal of the SRC’s legal complaint against the ZIFA president, two other ZIFA board members and the general secretary regarding alleged misuse of ZIFA letterheads.
2.6 Repeal of suspension of ZIFA general secretary at the specific instance and request of ZIFA.
PK: So, what was the SRC’s response to that request for lifting ZIFA general secretary’s (CEO’s) suspension?
GM: The SRC acceded to the request that the suspension of the general secretary be lifted. This was done on May 24, 2022. He did not return to work. He was subsequently suspended by ZIFA for failing to report for work. The disciplinary processes relating to this are a matter for ZIFA to process.
PK: What of the plea to lift the suspension on the ZIFA Executive Committee, which is also known as the board?
GM: At the specific instance and request of ZIFA, the SRC acceded to the request that the suspension of the ZIFA Executive Committee members be lifted. The commission acceded to this request and lifted their suspension on June 8, 2022 after a discussion with FIFA on June 3, 2022. During that discussion, FIFA were advised of the outcome of the ZIFA Extraordinary Congress of April 23, 2022, and of SRC’s intentions. FIFA stated that it would not interfere with the resolutions of congress so long as the EGM (extraordinary general meeting) had been held in accordance with ZIFA’s constitution.
Accordingly, the SRC lifted the suspension of the members of the Executive Committee lawfully in office as at April 24, 2022.
PK: What have you made of calls to reinstate Felton Kamambo?
GM: It is a fact that Mr Felton Kamambo is no longer the ZIFA president, having been recalled by his own congress. It follows, logically, that the SRC is not able to reinstate him to that position.
Any such attempt would, ironically, be blatantly unlawful in terms of ZIFA’s current constitution, as well as the Sports and Recreation Commission Act.
It is most regrettable that certain legislators continue to demand the SRC ignore the resolutions of the ZIFA Congress, violate ZIFA’s constitution, and, incredibly, its own Act, a product of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, in reinstating Mr Kamambo.
Some sports journalists, documented beneficiaries of the aero-junket that was AFCON 2019, gleefully continue to propagate these misguided, if not unlawful, demands, in wilful dereliction of their obligation, as members of the Fourth Estate, to inform and advise the public objectively. Indeed, a journalist without objectivity is simply an activist.
There is, therefore, no legal basis upon which ZIFA or, indeed, the SRC can request Mr Kamambo and Mr Mamutse to correspond with FIFA, nor can the latter organisation, in light of its views on the outcome of the EGM of April 2022 demand the same of those persons.
If anything, it is perhaps the correct, if not patriotic, thing to do for these recalled ZIFA Executive Committee members and the suspended general secretary to formally advise FIFA that they no longer hold office. They owe this nation an apology.
PK: Is there any likelihood of commissioning the Restructuring Committee with another task on ZIFA?
GM: The ZIFA Restructuring Committee’s mandate came to an end on December 31, 2022. It discharged fully its mandate, primarily to commission a forensic audit on the financial affairs of ZIFA and to compile a report containing its recommendations after extensive stakeholder consultations carried out countrywide. These reports have been made available to the public.
PK: What about the SRC case against ZIFA that is before the Magistrates’ Court?
GM: The SRC issued a lawful directive that was ignored by some of the members of the then-suspended ZIFA Executive Committee. These persons continued to fraudulently misrepresent themselves to the public.
They sought to perpetuate their actions through criminal enterprise, leading to their arrest and arraignment before the courts. The SRC, as complainant, wishes for a lengthy custodial sentence in the event of their conviction. That wish cannot be imposed on the Prosecutor-General of the Republic of Zimbabwe, however.
In the discharge of his functions and duties, the Prosecutor-General is, in accordance with the Zimbabwe’s Constitution, not subject to the control or direction of any person. The SRC Act is subservient to the country’s constitution. It cannot act in a manner inconsistent with the supreme law of the country. This fact has previously been conveyed to FIFA.
PK: How has the discussion between SRC and FIFA gone?
GM: It is a matter of public record that the SRC awaits ZIFA’s position and agreement on the recommendations put forward to it. Only ZIFA can accept and implement those recommendations.
The SRC cannot force those recommendations upon ZIFA. Upon their possible acceptance and consequent agreement with the commission (including deadlines, milestones and other deliverables), the parties will jointly approach FIFA for endorsement of the same.
This document, “The roadmap”, has been requested by FIFA.
It is this roadmap that will determine the future of football and football administration in Zimbabwe. For those agitating for a lifting of Zimbabwe’s temporary suspension of membership by FIFA, the roadmap is the proverbial key to the highway.
It is the production of the roadmap that we all should be collectively agitating and demanding from ZIFA as we head into the final month of the first quarter of 2023.
Twitter: @petrospablo1
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter