admin
Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
A STORM is brewing at the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe following the appointment of their secretary-general, Charmaine Chamboko, as a ZOC Board member.
The development is allegedly in breach of the BUZ Constitution.
Chamboko, who has been in office for the past three years, was appointed as the ZOC chairperson for media, communications, public relations and diplomacy, on April 25, this year.
However, it was noted by the Harare Basketball Association, at their extraordinary congress in June, that the appointment was in breach of Article 35, Section 11, of the BUZ Constitution.
The section states that “the secretary-general, and his assistant, may not hold an official position, within a provincial or national or international sports structure, outside FIBA”.
The HBA last week wrote to the BUZ demanding Chamboko step down from the national association.
“The matter was brought to our attention at our extraordinary congress, on the 12th of June 2021,’’ reads the letter.
“The current BUZ secretary-general, Charmaine (Chamboko), was appointed Zimbabwe Olympic Committee media, communication, public relations and diplomacy commission chair on the 25th of April 2021.
“It has been noted by our extraordinary congress, on Saturday 12th June 2021, that this appointment of the BUZ secretary-general was in clear breach, and outright violation of the BUZ Article 35, Section 11.
“It has been confirmed and is largely common cause that Charmaine now holds both a position with BUZ, as secretary-general, and the ZOC, which are both sports structures.
“It should be noted that the ZOC is a sports structure outside FIBA.
“For the good of the game, thus, and unity of purpose, we kindly and humbly request her to resign as BUZ secretary-general, as she is in clear violation of the constitution.
“It would be a travesty of justice, and putting the sport of basketball into unnecessary, and superfluous disrepute, if this constitutional breach would be allowed to perpetuate any longer than has been made necessary.
“We are of the considered view that remedial action be taken as a matter of urgency.”
Before the HBA wrote to the BUZ, legal representatives of Giants Basketball Club, who play under the Bulawayo Basketball Association, had also written to their provincial association, raising red flags, over the issue.
“The Constitution of Basketball Union of Zimbabwe states in Article 35(11), that the secretary-general of Basketball Union of Zimbabwe cannot hold any official position, within a provincial or national sports structure, outside FIBA.
“The current secretary-general of the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe has violated that provision in that she, Charmaine Yemurai Chamboko, the secretary-general, has taken up an official position in the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee Board,” read part of the letter, which the BBA forwarded to the BUZ.
The BUZ executive committee met last Thursday and they directed Chamboko to put forward her heads of argument, by Friday this week.
BUZ president, Joe Mujuru, confirmed the issue was before his association.
“I am aware of that issue and I can tell you that the executive committee met last week on Thursday and directed Chamboko, to put in writing, her response by Friday this week,” said Mujuru.
“We haven’t dealt with an issue of that nature before and we will try by all means, in a professional and transparent manner, to deal with this matter.
“We have already written to provinces updating them on the way forward.”
Online Reporter