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Petros Kausiyo
WORLD football governing body FIFA have resolved to stick with their man and are this morning set to formally announce an extension of Lincoln Mutasa’s tenure at the helm of the ZIFA Normalisation Committee.
Barring any dramatic last-minute changes, Mutasa is expected to be given another nine-month stint at ZIFA, but this time with one major task to deal with — that of holding the association’s elections.
The extension of his tenure is despite the former Dynamos chairman’s struggles with leading the football association since his July 11, 2023, appointment by FIFA.
FIFA head of development programmes for Africa, Solomon Mudege, is in the country following the expiry of the Normalisation Committee’s initial mandate on June 30.
The influential Mudege, widely regarded as the kingmaker in ZIFA politics, especially since FIFA directly intervened in the Zimbabwe situation two years ago, is in the company of the world body’s regional development manager for Southern Africa, David Fani.
FIFA director of member associations Africa Gelson Fernades and the senior manager of member associations Sarah Solemale did not travel to Harare, but have been joining their colleagues virtually,during the series of meetings that Mudege has lined up to address the state of ZIFA and the Zimbabwean game.
The FIFA officials, who flew in on Tuesday night, met the Normalisation Committee in a lengthy indaba on Wednesday after which Mutasa’s tenure was extended.
But there was no such joy for former Highlanders defender Sikhumbuzo Ndebele, who was dropped from the committee along with Mutasa’s deputy, Cynthia Malaba.
FIFA, however, retained ex-Mighty Warriors skipper and coach Rosemary Mugadza and lawyer Nyasha Sanyamandwe.
With Mudege insisting on keeping a tight lid on all deliberations, including his latest visit to Harare, it was not immediately clear whether FIFA will appoint two new faces to join the Normalisation Committee.
But sources privy to the goings-on at ZIFA revealed that Mutasa will now be mandated to oversee the staging of the association’s much-awaited elections.
“FIFA had considered bringing in a whole new Normalisation Committee, but there were fears that appointing new people could delay the whole bid to hold ZIFA elections because these new members would need time to settle in,” the sources said.
“So it was resolved to carry on with those that are already there in the system and then tweak the composition of the Normalisation Committee.
“FIFA and the Normalisation Committee have been having a series of meetings and after evaluating their performances and impact on the association and the Zimbabwe football reform process, FIFA decided to drop Ndebele and Malaba and retain the other three.
“So going forward, FIFA wants Mutasa and his committee to ensure that the ZIFA Congress holds an extraordinary meeting to deliberate on and adopt the constitutional amendments.
“After that, the Normalisation Committee must appoint an electoral committee and outline the elections road map.
“FIFA want the ZIFA elections to have been held by the first quarter of next year, which would mean that the remainder of the year must be used to start the elections for the affiliate bodies.
“So, the rest of the administrative issues will now be handled by the general secretary (Yvonne Mapika Manwa) and the secretariat.
“This means the Normalisation Committee cannot afford to divert their attention to such things as the national teams or administrative or development matters.
“That explains why FIFA told the Normalisation Committee to leave the appointment of a substantive coach to the next ZIFA leadership.”
After meeting Mutasa and the Normalisation Committee on Wednesday, Mudege and his team yesterday held lengthy discussions with chief executive Mapika Manwa and her entire secretariat.
They also met both the Normalisation Committee and the secretariat.
“The secretariat has now been handed more responsibilities to run the affairs of ZIFA, while the Normalisation Committee focuses on ensuring that elections are held under an amended constitution.
“Today’s (yesterday) meetings centred on bringing some alignment between the Normalisation Committee and the secretariat — clearly defining their roles and responsibilities.
“The committee must also appoint an electoral committee and FIFA have made it clear that this time their tenure will not exceed whatever date would have been agreed on.
“Instead they must try to even finish the task before hand but what is clear is that FIFA now wants elections for a substantive ZIFA executive committee to be held,” the sources said.
After meeting the ZIFA officials, Mudege and his crew are this morning expected to have an indaba with the Sports and Recreation Commission’s board.
FIFA are understood to have made it clear to Mutasa and his committee that they were not amused that they had failed to achieve one of their key tasks, which was to establish with the help of FIFA, a collaboration agreement between the Ministry of Sport/the SRC and ZIFA, which will define the responsibilities and objectives of each party, including (but not exclusively) on the topic of sexual harassment”.
For all their less than convincing handling of the Zimbabwe situation, FIFA have, however, been clear that they are keen on seeing a better working relationship between the government and ZIFA.
Online Reporter