admin
Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
VETERAN sports administrator Tommy Ganda Sithole has distanced himself from accusations made by ousted ZIFA board members associating him with the leaked draft forensic audit report conducted by BDO Zimbabwe.
The unsigned report, which unearthed grave financial misdemeanors at the association, has been circulating on various social media platforms this week and the story was subsequently carried by the mainstream media.
Sithole, who is a member of the ZIFA Restructuring Committee and also chairman of Zimpapers, yesterday rubbished a press statement made by the lawyers representing ousted ZIFA president Felton Kamambo linking him to the leaked report.
The experienced administrator is currently in South Korea for the Association of National Olympic Committees elective general assembly.
“I’m in Seoul, South Korea, at the moment where I am attending the elective general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC),” Sithole said in a statement.
“1) I have been made aware about a statement purported to have been issued by a law firm associating me with the leaked BDO report on ZIFA forensic audit.
“2) First they should get their simple facts right. The Restructuring Committee does NOT have a vice chairman. I am just one of the members of the committee, full stop.
“3) The statement associates me with the leak, ostensibly because I am also chairman of Zimpapers.
“4) The only name associated with the leak and therefore more than an insinuation that I may have had something to do with it is but a daft, unamusing proposal that is certainly not appreciated.
“5) Since the allegations that are said to be contained in the leaked report are, to a layman like me, borders on the prosecutable. I absolutely dare those accusing me of being associated with the leak to sue me or forever hold their cowardly peace. I know they are cowards.
“6) Let it be understood and known that as I draft this response I have NOT read the BDO report and that I don’t know what it contains.
“7) If those who have purportedly been mentioned in the report feel I maligned them and felt so strongly as to rush off to their lawyers, they are free to seek recourse of the courts.”
The Sports Commission confirmed there was a draft report circulating but urged stakeholders and the public alike “to exercise reasonable caution in drawing any conclusions at this point based on an unofficial document.”
But a press statement by Harare lawyer, Admire Rubaya, who is representing the former ZIFA board members, desperately sought to tarnish the finding of the impending audit report.
Sources have said ZIFA might have been prejudiced in excess of US$2 million by some members of the Kamambo-led board.
“It has been brought to the attention of our clients, Messrs. F. Kamambo, P. Machana, S. Chapeta, B. Malandule and J. Mamutse, all who are on ‘suspension’ from the SRC, that a purported unsigned ‘Draft Forensic Audit Report’ on ZIFA’s financial transactions is circulating in various media spaces, especially on Social Media,” wrote Rubaya in a six-page statement.
The Former ZIFA board members in their desperation alleged that Sithole, who they erroneously referred to as the vice-chairman of the ZIFA Restructuring Committee, could be behind the draft report that has been circulating on social media.
Sithole has since challenged them to prove the allegation.
“Our clients have seen numerous media reports, mainly from known state media critics, such as from the Chronicle and the Herald both under the Zimpapers stable chaired by Mr Tommy Sithole who is also a deputy chair of the ZIFA Restructuring Committee and have also had sight of the so-called Draft Forensic Report, purportedly originating from BDO Zimbabwe.
“Furthermore, our clients have had sight of the SRC press statement regarding same. We would want to notify the generality of sport-loving persons and authorities that our clients eagerly await receipt of the Final Audit Report’, from which they shall respond after having satisfied all legal impediments currently curtailing them to comment.
“Such shall be done through utilising the appropriate legal remedies against the said auditors, BDO Zimbabwe and/or SRC, ZIFA restructuring committee as well as the current illegal ZIFA Board,” said Rubaya.
According to the draft report that has been doing rounds on social media, the findings by BDO Chartered Accountants have revealed gross mismanagement in the way financial transactions were done.
The Sports Commission confirmed in a statement that there “are certainly very significant sums of money received by ZIFA that cannot be accounted for during the review period of 1st December, 2018 to 30th November, 2021.”
Sports Commission chairman Gerald Mlotshwa, however, urged stakeholders to exercise caution in drawing any conclusions at this point based on an unofficial document
“The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has been made aware, from various media enquiries seeking its comment on the matter, that a DRAFT forensic audit report is circulating in the public domain.
“SRC’s wishes to advise the public that auditors contracted for the undertaking made separate presentations to the Restructuring Committee as well as the Commission of their detailed preliminary findings in respect of the financial affairs of ZIFA.
“There are certainly very significant sums of money received by ZIFA that cannot be accounted for during the review period of 1st December, 2018 to 30th November, 2021.
“The auditors have not signed off the forensic audit report. They will do so shortly. The ZIFA Audit report, once formally and procedurally presented to the restructuring committee that commissioned it, is ultimately intended for the benefit of the members of ZIFA to consider during their general meeting slated for the end of October, 2022.
“Accordingly, we advise stakeholders and the public alike to exercise reasonable caution in drawing any conclusions at this point based on an unofficial document,” said the Sports Commission statement.
Online Reporter