Chronicle Editor
Eddie Chikamhi, Senior Sports Reporter
Zifa Normalisation Committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa says a new era of transparency and accountability in the administration of football in Zimbabwe is on the horizon following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between his association and the Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC).
The MoU is a fulfilment of one of the six recommendations made by Fifa at the lifting of the Zifa suspension last year as part of broader solutions to eliminate the discord between the association and the authorities in the management of the game. The agreement sets boundaries on the duties and responsibilities of the governing parties, addressing contentious issues related to “third party interference”, which was the major root of the dispute that led to the suspension of Zimbabwe from international football by Fifa in 2022.
The MoU is also a step towards holding the Zifa elections with a January 2025 deadline. The elections are set to usher in a new executive that should take the game forward. The signing ceremony was held in Harare yesterday, with high-ranking officials from Fifa and the Zifa Normalisation Committee in attendance.
Both Mutasa and SRC chairman Gerald Mlotshwa were excited by the document, which spells out duties and responsibilities as well as areas of collaboration.
“We are taking a crucial step forward in our journey to revive and strengthen football administration in Zimbabwe,” said Mutasa.
“This agreement is not just a formality; it is a testament to our shared vision for a transparent, accountable and viable football administration that will restore the glory of our beloved sport. The journey hasn’t been easy; it has been marked by challenges and setbacks. But it has also been characterised by resilience, determination and unwavering belief in the potential of Zimbabwean football. The establishment of the Normalisation Committee by Fifa and the subsequent lifting of Zimbabwe’s suspension from international football were pivotal steps in this journey. We will continue to work diligently to align our statutes and electoral code with Fifa requirements, paving the way for a new democratically elected Zifa board,” said Mutasa.
The MoU, which has the blessings of Fifa, addresses three main areas: good governance, measures to rid sexual harassment from domestic football, and the lobbying for funds for the national teams.
The document recognises the autonomy of Zifa as well as the football association’s fundamental duty in respect of acknowledging the laws of the country and the Government.
“I think the background of all this is well documented; the Fifa suspension of Zifa, its lifting last year, and the conditions that were set at the lifting of that suspension,” said Mlotshwa. “The important condition was a stipulation by Fifa itself that the NC and the SRC needed to come up with an MoU regarding the management of their relationship going forward.
“That was because Fifa itself had greatly appreciated the issues that had been raised by the SRC and the need to find a common platform between SRC and Zifa essentially as to how they will collaborate going forward, obviously with respect for the Zifa and Fifa constitutions as well as the laws of Zimbabwe.
“There was no great rush to have it drafted and signed, and that was deliberate. I think we needed to allow the NC to do its work to understand the issues that needed to be addressed and to ensure that those issues were captured in the MoU. I think as we move towards what I would call the home run in so far as the NC’s mandate is concerned, this has become the appropriate time to sign the MoU because it will not just govern the relationship between the NC and the SRC, but with the new incoming administration of Zifa as well, going forward.”
This MoU records the framework for the development of an effective, efficient and transparent working relationship among the parties.
SRC’s Roles and Responsibilities:
i. Formulate and establish policy frameworks to promote the development of sport in Zimbabwe as established by national law.
ii. Assist where necessary in the activities of Zifa following Zifa invitation.
iii. Collaborate with Zifa to decisively address the topic of sexual harassment, with Zifa formulating a Code of Conduct to ensure the prevention of sexual harassment in football in Zimbabwe.
iv. Create an environment that supports and enhances the development of Zifa and the sport of football in Zimbabwe.
v. Endeavour to provide financial resources in order to fund some of the main Zifa activities especially in relation to the activities of the different National Teams representing Zimbabwe in International Competitions.
vi. Advise the Government of the needs of Zifa.
vii. Assist Zifa when requested in the recruitment of Coaches and instructors.
viii. Provide capacity-building initiatives to Zifa Stakeholders through skills training to enhance governance, administration, and technical development-related aspects.
ix. Set-up, maintain, and operate establishments for accommodation of visiting sports teams or groups of persons engaged in football in Zimbabwe.
x. Provide overall and general support to Zifa.
xi. Providing, developing, and maintaining football infrastructure in Zimbabwe and making them available for the matches and activities of the different football teams representing clubs and national teams in Zimbabwe.
Zifa’s roles and Responsibilities:
1 Execute the main objectives of Zifa as defined in article 2 of the Zifa Statutes.
ii. To collaborate with the SRC to decisively address the topic of sexual harassment and to prevent it in football.
iii. To establish and maintain a relationship with the SRC based on collaboration and mutual respect in order to achieve the common objectives in relation to the development of football in Zimbabwe.
iv. To proactively formulate policies that provide for safeguarding in football and gender inclusivity.
v. To implement a robust Media/ Public Relations Management arm to keep stakeholders informed on key issues relating to football matters.
vi. To adhere to the provisions of the approved Zifa Constitution in use from time to time.
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