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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) yesterday ordered its director-general Charles Nhemachena to find out from Zifa president Cuthbert Dube whether the planned extraordinary congress set for the capital over the weekend is legal.The SRC board chairman Edward Siwela confirmed yesterday that Nhemachena had been asked to meet Dube to find out whether or not the congress is legal.
“Just this morning I ordered our director-general Nhemachena to look into this whole issue, he will confront the association president himself and if indeed the constitution was violated then as SRC we might be forced to come in. What’s paramount though is that people must know that the role of the SRC is mainly advisory, it should be the membership of Zifa (councillors) who must write and raise these issues,” said Siwela.
He said it was only after the councillors had exhausted the internal dispute resolution mechanisms that the SRC might be called to intervene. Siwela dismissed as unfounded claims that the commission was folding its arms while Zifa leadership violated its own constitution.
“It isn’t true that we’re doing nothing about it. There can’t be any talk of corporate governance without the rule of law so we won’t allow Zifa to violate its own constitution,” he said.
Meanwhile, reports of plans to fire three board members, vice president Omega Sibanda, board member-in-charge of finance, Ben Gwarada and women’s football boss Miriam Sibanda went into overdrive yesterday. The move is, however, said to be illegal as the rules governing the convening of an extraordinary congress are reported to have been violated.
According to Article 28 of the Zifa Constitution, an extraordinary general meeting can be called, by the executive committee (board) which can call for the congress at any time. The executive committee can also convene an extraordinary congress if one third of the members of Zifa make such a request in writing. The request shall specify the items on the agenda. An extra-ordinary congress shall be held within three months of receipt of the request. As a last resort, the members may request assistance from Caf or Fifa,”
The members shall be notified of the place, date and agenda at least 14 days before the date of an extra-ordinary congress.
It has since emerged that the weekend meeting was not called at the behest of the members (councillors) or the executive committee (board members). The 14 days notice was also not given. Some Zifa board members distanced themselves from the meeting, saying they were not consulted and neither did they call for it as a full Zifa board.
“What we gather is that the chief executive officer (Jonathan Mashingaidze) is saying the meeting should have been held in November last year so it gives the required three months notice. What we are supposed to have is the same agenda that was set for the November meeting but it isn’t the case here, meaning it’s a new meeting altogether,” said a Zifa councillor.
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