adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA Bulawayo Metropolitan Province board member responsible for finance Paradzai Matuka has assured members that funds are safe, saying they had accounting systems that cannot be manipulated.
Last month, reports indicated that acting provincial chairman Francis Ntutha took a $300 loan from the association without the knowledge of the board, but Matuka insisted that their systems could not be breached.
“First of all I would like to assure members that no funds are missing and every cent has been accounted for. I believe as Bulawayo Province we’ve developed internal controls which ensure that there is accountability of funds. The voucher system shows that our systems are in order as every transaction is recorded,” said Matuka.
Asked about Ntutha’s loan, Matuka said: “Like I said, we’ve done everything possible to make sure that all the funds are accounted for. Where there are problems or queries, I write at the back of the voucher and ensure that there are corrections. But note, only when someone writes an application for a pressing medical matter can they access a loan after the approval of the board.”
He said it was not true that they were diverting or abusing clubs’ affiliation fees.
Clubs in the Division Two and Three leagues that are administered by the province each pay $770 in affiliation and registration fees.
“To be honest there are some clubs that owe affiliation fees and we’re still operating. Actually, I would like to believe that we might be one of the few Zifa affiliates that go off season with money in the bank because of proper accounting systems we’ve put in place. Those who feel a forensic audit should be conducted may go ahead with it because we know that we’re clean and we will never tinker with public funds,” said Matuka.
He could not be drawn into commenting on whether or not Ntutha had returned the money he took, saying he would look at the May accounts this weekend.
“I’ll be looking at our accounts at the weekend and that’s when I’ll be able to comment on income and expenditure,” he said.
derick.khumalo