adminPaul Munyuki Harare Bureau
A BOARDROOM storm is simmering within the Zimbabwe Rugby Union ahead of the Confederation of Africa Rugby annual meeting set for France next month. It is centred on who should represent the country at the continental rugby motherbody indaba.
ZRU president John Falkenberg and his executive vice-president Colleen de Jong are expected to travel to France for the meeting.
For the first time Zimbabwe will get a seat on the CAR board at the meeting.
This means Bulawayo-based Nyararai Sibanda (Southern Region) will remain behind, acting on behalf of the Union president, while he is away on official rugby business.
Early this year CAR indicated that Zimbabwe will get a seat on the CAR committee and the task has been on Falkenberg to choose an individual who will represent Zimbabwe and take up the post.
Falkenberg has ruled himself out of sitting on the CAR executive committee.
De Jong could become Zimbabwe’s first administrator on the CAR committee.
However, some have questioned how De Jong could assume such a post given the questions over the way she was appointed to her position at last year’s ZRU annual meeting.
According to the ZRU constitution, the executive board was supposed to have voted at the annual indaba for Tsimba’s replacement or called for an extra-ordinary general meeting.
Section 21 of the ZRU constitution gives the power of appointment, for such board positions, to an extra-ordinary meeting.
De Jong was co-opted at an annual meeting.
“The National Executive Board or two thirds of ZRU Affiliate Members may convene an extra-ordinary general meeting (hereinafter referred to as the EGM) with the mandate (amongst other) to fill in vacant posts in the National Executive Committee in the event that there are at least three vacancies.
“These appointments are made by the National Executive Board.”
Before getting the ZRU vice-presidency, De Jong was the administration manager of the Young Sables working under the chairmanship of former Sables winger Aaron Jani.
Online Reporter