Tapela executive to remain on the sidelines

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has appointed Barbara Chikosi to lead a taskforce that will seek to end the impasse in the Southern Region. Late last year, Southern Region clubs decided against renewing the mandate of three executive committee members, chairman Andrew Tapela, his deputy Gaylord Madhunguza as well as secretary Mehluli Thebe which ended in October.

A majority of the clubs, 12 out of the 17 who attended the meeting at the Zifa Southern Region offices in Bulawayo agreed to boot out Tapela, Madhunguza and Thebe. Board member finance Tizirayi Luphahla survived the axe. Tapela and his executive refused to accept the club’s decision describing the meeting as a non-event.

Zifa has since taken a stance on the matter.

“Zifa understands that there was a meeting of Southern Region clubs that took place and a resolution was passed to revoke the mandate of some executive committee members. The national Zifa executive committee has resolved that a taskforce be dispatched to Southern Region to understand the impasse and come up with a report with recommendations. The taskforce will be led by Barbara Chikosi,” read a letter from Zifa acting general- secretary Xolisani Gwesela.

Zifa also said Augustine Ndlovu, the head of the Southern Region secretariat will be running the operations from now on while also postponing the AGM which was meant for today.

“Consequently the association hereby directs that all league operations be handled by the secretariat led by Augustine Ndlovu until the taskforce has completed its work. We further direct that the extraordinary general meeting slated for 26 February be postponed until the impasse has been resolved.”

Before passing a vote of no confidence on the trio, the clubs co-opted Lloyd Munhanga of Zimbabwe Saints and Mosi Rovers’ representative Tafadzwa Mutowa into the board. Munhanga and Mutowa were filling the gaps left by Bryton Malandule who was elevated to the Zifa national executive before he was ousted, as well as Fiso Siziba who assumed the vice-chairmanship role at Highlanders.

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