adminmatch-fixing scandal.
The chairman of the Committee Silas Chekera yesterday said they were ready to begin work, five months after they were commissioned in the capital.
Players and officials such as Guthtrie Zhokinyi, CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro and Shabanie’s Luke Masomere, who appealed against the bans imposed on them by the Zifa board paid US$6 000 each in appeal fees to the association.
Chekera said that as a committee collectively and as individuals they had a reputation to protect and would discharge their mandate in an impartial and transparent manner.
“It is important for me as the chairman to make it clear that as a committee, we hold no brief from anyone.
“My colleague, Advocate (Thabani) Mpofu, and I are professional lawyers. I also have faith in the integrity of our colleague, Mr Chris Mbanga, who has a well-known track record in the administration of football.
“As a committee we will therefore conduct ourselves with utmost integrity and discharge our mandate in a fair and transparent manner.
“Our mandate demands no less,’’ Chekera said.
Chekera, however said they would deal with each case with its own merits and remained hopeful that the process would not be hit by absenteeism.
“I believe that the appellants were given notices of the hearing. It is therefore up to them as the main litigants to appear before the committee to pursue their appeals.
“Should any one of them fail to attend, the committee will deal with the matter appropriately depending on the circumstances of their default.
“As most of the appellants are legally represented one however hopes that they are properly advised as to the importance of their attendance,” said Chekera said.
Earlier this week, lawyers representing former Warriors’ coach Sunday Chidzambwa and Zimbabwe international defender, Thomas Sweswe, questioned Zifa’s decision to hold the appeals hearings this week.
South African law firm, Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, who are representing the duo, said the time frame given by Zifa for the hearings was too short and placed their clients at a disadvantage if their cases were to be heard this week.
Farai Razano, a South Africa-based lawyer representing Chidzambwa and Sweswe, said his clients could not come at such short notice.
He argued the summons were sent on Saturday and arrived at their offices on Monday, for such an important hearing.
Razano is understood to have spoken to Mashingaidze yesterday but it was not immediately clear by last night whether a postponement of Chidzambwa and Swewe’s hearings had been secured by the lawyer.
Online Reporter