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Zimpapers Sports Hub
ELTAH NENGOMASHA was naturally a relieved woman yesterday as she sensationally bounced back to the helm of the Sports and Recreation Commission after being cleared of charges that seemed to border on criminal abuse of office.
The Sports Commission director-general was sent on forced leave on October 31 last year to pave the way for a hearing on allegations that she was facing.
Nengomasha has since her suspension maintained a life away from the public glare, seemingly allowing the SRC probe to continue unhindered.
The country’s sport regulatory body revealed via a brief statement from their board chairman, Gerald Mlotshwa, yesterday that the lid on Nengnomasha’s suspension had been lifted.
“Please take note that following the suspension of the director-general of the SRC on the 31st of October 2024, a disciplinary hearing was subsequently held before an independent tribunal.
“In its twenty-one-page determination of 11th March, 2025, the three-member Tribunal acquitted and cleared the director-general of any wrongdoing. Effectively, the suspension against the director-general is lifted, and she will resume normal duties, including the restructuring of the SRC’s human resources, with the full confidence and support of the board,” Mlotshwa said.
Nengomasa declined to discuss much about the development but revealed her happiness at being cleared by the Tribunal, especially after some social media hawks had literally convicted her well before the hearing.
Her terse response to the statement announcing that her suspension had been lifted, suggested that she was in mood for retribution or side shows that could divide opinion at the Sports Commission.
Yet Nengomasha’s suspension had also left many in the sporting fraternity shocked after he had successfully led Team Zimbabwe as Chef de Mission at the 2023 African Games in Accra, Ghana, last year.
“I am happy with the outcome of the result from the Independent Tribunal and that due processes took place. There is a lot of work to be done, and that is where the focus will be,” Nengomasha said.
In one of the best-kept secrets, the Sports Commission has, to this date, never made public the disciplinary charge sheet of the allegations Nengomasha faced before the Independent Tribunal. In the five months that Nengomasha has been on forced leave, veteran administrator Sebastian Garikai has been the acting director-general.
This is also not the first time that Garikai has been an acting director-general.
He held fort for a long spell since November 2022, when the SRC first suspended before eventually firing then-director Prince Mupazviriho.
Mupazviriho had served in the post for exactly two years, although his appointment was shrouded with controversy.
Mupazviriho was suspended together with then ZIFA chief executive Joseph Mamutse to enable investigations into how national football teams were cleared for foreign assignments under questionable circumstances during the Covid-19 environment.
Online Reporter