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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA president Cuthbert Dube has endorsed the recent suspension of Zimbabwe Women Football chairperson, Miriam Sibanda.
A week after a group of disgruntled councillors, some of whom, it has since emerged, are not in any way involved in football administration, met at the Zifa Village and agreed to suspend Sibanda and two board members Ben Mamoshe and Edwin Magosvongwe.
Charges against Sibanda, Mamoshe and Magosvongwe ranged from trying to overthrow a legitimately elected Zifa president, trying to incite the government to intervene in the running of football and ultimately lead to the country being banned by Fifa.
Sibanda is also accused of fanning factionalism in Zimbabwe football and launching attacks on Cuthbert Dube and Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze as well as the technical director Takaendesa Jongwe.
Despite the meeting having been illegally convened, some councillors being forced to sign the petition and others’ signatures forged, Dube on Monday wrote a letter to Sibanda and advised her that her case has since been referred to the Zifa disciplinary committee.
“Naturally so,” said Mashingaidze last night when asked whether the letter from Dube was a confirmation of the women football boss’s suspension.
Reads part of the letter, dated April 27;
“The Zimbabwe Football Association is in receipt of your letter dated 24th April, 2015, pertaining to the above matter (suspension) and hereby acknowledges its contents. The association received letters of suspension of the three (3) members of the Zimbabwe Women Football League from the Zimbabwe Women Council on 20th April, 2015 and the matter is now before the Zifa Disciplinary Committee. The association awaits guidance from the Zifa Disciplinary Commitee on the way forward.”
Elizabeth Langa, Sibanda’s former deputy was immediately elevated as the acting chairperson while Cecilia Gambe deputises her.
Procedurally, Sibanda was supposed to be tried by her own constituency, Zimbabwe Women Football, as she leads an affiliate and was not charged by the national association.
Meanwhile, in another development, clubs that attended last week’s meeting which was chaired by Sibanda, are being threatened with sanctions if they don’t renounce their allegiance to her.
Twelve clubs last night agreed to play under the Sibanda leadership when the 2015 national Super League begins on May 9.
Online Reporter