Online Reporter
Petros Kausiyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SIX years after they arrived on the scene with a mission to turnaround Zimbabwe’s sport and ensure there was corporate governance across all national associations, Gerald Mlotshwa and his board have waved goodbye to the Sports and Recreation Commission.
This comes after their second term expired on May 31.
Prominent Harare lawyer Mlotshwa and his leadership were appointed by then Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry at the helm of the domestic sport regulatory body on May 31, 2019.
Allen Chiura, Colleen de Jong, Gail Van Jaarsveldt, Karen Mutasa, Nigel Munyati and Titus Zvomuya made up that board.
Eltah Nengomasha came in as director-general and an ex-officio member of the board.
Coventry then reposed her confidence in Mlotshwa’s leadership and that of his board, handing them a second three-year term in May 2022, with only Mutasa stepping aside along the way.
As they bid the SRC and the family of sport farewell, Mlotshwa and his team will leave knowing they made a huge mark in not only transforming the Commission but also the manner in which sport is administered in the country.
The legal practitioner yesterday confirmed his departure from the SRC and told Zimpapers Sports Hub that his board members would in their individual capacities, continue to be involved in sport, as was the case prior to their 2019 appointment.
Mlotshwa, also indicated that despite leaving the SRC board, the administrators would continue to be involved in sport.
“I can confirm that my board’s tenure ended on May, 31, 2025,” Mlotshwa said.
“We had served our second and final term as provided for in the SRC Act.
“My board and I are grateful for having had the chance to serve the nation, and I would like to think that we made a difference in sport, particularly in improving governance within the various national sports associations.
“The outgoing SRC board, as was always the case before our appointment, will continue to be involved in sport, in one way or the other.
“It’s in our collective blood,” said Mlotshwa.
The outgoing board had members of diverse sporting backgrounds with Mlotshwa having been part of polo, rugby, golf and cricket fraternities, Urological surgeon Chiura is an ex-rugby player while de Jonge served as Zimbabwe Rugby Union chief executive.
Munyati, a director at Aces Youth Soccer Academy is a former ZIFA board member and Bindura University of Science Education’s director of sports academy, Zvomuya, previously served at Zimbabwe Cricket, ZRU and between 2005-2017, an executive board member of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
Mlotshwa’s principled stance on governance issues afflicting many sporting associations endeared him to his board and many well-meaning stakeholders, including the Government and the corporate world.
Resultantly, the Sports Commission were also able to bring back the Annual Sports Awards and turn them into a massive event that honours Zimbabwe’s outstanding sports-persons. Yet Mlotshwa felt humbled when, back on May 29, six years ago, Coventry told him he had been her choice for SRC chairman.
The appointment came at a time when the country was preparing for several major competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, the Netball World Cup in England and the Morocco edition of the African Games.
Coventry had earlier dissolved Edward Siwela’s board when she appointed Mlotshwa’s leadership.
He also recalled a month after his initial appointment that he had been pleasantly surprised at being named the board chairman.
“I was humbled. Minister Coventry had long selected her board members last year. In fact, she had already spoken to each and every one of us. Originally, she intended to announce the new SRC board at the Annual National Sports Awards in March.
However, the vetting process had not yet been completed, even though most of the current board was at the awards ceremony as special guests of the Minister, seated at a table near hers.
There had not been mention of a chairperson at that stage. However, on 29th May (2019), I was watching my son playing hockey for his school team when a message came through from the Minister. She was asking if I could take her call. The Minister expressed faith and confidence in me and then asked if I was prepared to chair the board. You don’t say no to Africa’s greatest Olympian!’’ Mlotshwa told the Sunday Mail back then.
After that appointment, it was about a mission to ensure sport was run like a business and his board did not hesitate to run the rule on the errant associations.
