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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE country’s supreme sports body, Sports and Recreation Commission has broken its silence on the controversy surrounding Zifa president Cuthbert Dube.
Zifa is an affiliate of the SRC.There have been questions whether Dube’s candidacy for the biggest football post in the country was morally right following the shocking salary revelations at PSMAS where he was the group chief executive officer.
He is said to have been earning $230,000 monthly while grossing a shocking $6 million per year from salary and other allowances.
SRC board chairman Joseph James, a respected Bulawayo lawyer, said until it is proved that Dube did anything criminal in earning that salary, it will be difficult for them to interfere with his candidacy.
“From a start I want to be clear that we are really concerned as a body about what we have been reading in the papers regarding the Zifa president, Dube’s salary from his employment, especially with the size of our economy. However, if this thing was done with the concurrence of a properly constituted PSMAS board then honestly there is no case here,” said James.
He added: “If, however, it is proved that his earnings were not procedural then as custodians of sport in this country we can come in and say Dube you are not in good standing to lead a public institution,” said the SRC board chairman.
President Mugabe criticised Dube for attempting to defend his alleged looting of funds at the society, saying those convicted of corruption and criminal abuse of office will be jailed.
President Mugabe also blamed some government ministers for either being part of the scam that have rocked several parastatals for not supervising the operations of such entities.
President Mugabe was speaking in an interview to mark his 90th birthday that was aired on ZBCTV on Thursday. Dube was taking home nearly $6 million a year in salaries and allowances, while the medical aid society was reeling under a heavy debt.
“What does vaCuthbert Dube tell us, (he says) ko chitadzo chandakaita ndechipi,” said President Mugabe.
“Punishment of those who are proved to have been corrupt, to have been stealing — we lock them up. Vambononzwawo jeri kuti rinorwadza sei.”
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