DUBE RUNS TO FIFA’S BOSOM

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FIFA is today expected to respond to the ousting of Zifa president Cuthbert Dube and two board members Tawengwa Hara and Fungai Chihuri amid revelations last night that a stunned Dube and his chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze wrote to the world football body on Sunday claiming the councillors had no legal standing to fire them.

Dube and Mashingaidze’s letter was written even before the councillors had presented their Saturday resolutions, raising eyebrows about the duo’s actions.

The councillors were, however, last night unmoved by Dube’s actions and remained hopeful that Fifa would act in the best interests of football “as the action we took was within the parameters of the constitution”.

“We’ll announce our position as soon as possible, possibly tomorrow (today). We confirm receipt of your inquiry and my partner is working on the response,” said an official from the Fifa media office in Zurich, Switzerland, during a brief interview last night.

The councillors met in the capital on Saturday and resolved to recall Dube and the two board members and immediately appointed Zifa vice president Omega Sibanda to steer the ship. Sibanda, however, yesterday said the status quo has not changed.

“I am still the Zifa vice president, the status quo hasn’t changed,” he said.

Sibanda appears to be playing his cards well as he waits for Fifa to endorse the councillors’ decision.

Sweeny Mushonga, who chaired the Saturday meeting, last night said they have since officially communicated their position to Fifa and were certain of a football decision.

“Dube was recalled from his position as the Zifa president, he was not suspended as some sections of the media reported. He’s no longer the Zifa president pending endorsement by Fifa. Mashingaidze remains the Zifa chief executive officer. We’re waiting for Fifa’s response to that effect. Sibanda remains the vice president but if there’s to be any Zifa meeting, he’ll be the president as per the dictates of the Zifa constitution,” said Mushonga.

Dube becomes the first sitting Zifa board leader to be kicked out by the Assembly after Leo Mugabe was deposed in the same way in 2002.

Mugabe was replaced by Vincent Pamire, who was the vice president before Rafik Khan was elected the substantive chairman.

Dube took over from Wellington Nyatanga and was now serving his second term as Zifa president.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture said the government was committed to help ZIFA get back to its feet in the post-Cuthbert Dube era.

Deputy Minister Tabitha Khumalo-Malinga said the decision to axe Dube should be upheld as the meeting was held above board as per article 22 sub-section of the ZIFA constitution.

She said: “The ministry is very interested in finding ways on how the government should help ZIFA out of this unfortunate situation.

“The fact that Dube and a few of his colleagues have been booted out doesn’t automatically mean that our problems are over, but this could be one step towards solving the issues,” said Kanengoni-Malinga.

The ZIFA Constitution allows a third of the Council (19 councillors) to call for an Extraordinary General Meeting and 29 of the 58 members attended Saturday’s gathering and voted almost unanimously to carry the resolutions.

The Deputy Minister, who last year advocated for the cleansing of the Zifa board including the disbandment of Dube’s executive, added: “Even President Robert Mugabe wants to see an end to the crisis in football. So we’ve to be level-headed and try to work together with all stakeholders concerned.”