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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter—
EXACTLY seven days after Fifa expelled Zimbabwe from the 2018 World Cup over a $60,000 debt owed to former coach Valinhos, some Zifa councillors have drawn up a petition calling for an extraordinary general meeting. For the petition to sail through, according to the Zifa constitution, it needs to have one third of the Zifa asembly members appending their signatures and with 58 Zifa assembly members, the petition movers need 20 signatures.
It is believed all the 16 members of the Premier Soccer League, who provide a delegate each, are supporting the petition believed to be spearheaded by disgruntled provincial councillors and some regional football leaders.
The extraordinary meeting is likely to boot out Cuthbert Dube, the board and Jonathan Mashingaidze..
There is mounting pressure for the Zifa board to step down together with the chief executive officer Mashingaidze. The nation is angry because of the country’s exclusion from the 2018 World Cup.
“As the Parliament of football in Zimbabwe, we are really concerned about the state of our football and through the platform that we have, we feel calling for an emergency meeting is the only way forward. We are saying no to this nonsense,” said a councillor who requested anonymity.
He said they want to engage the board and demand answers as to what exactly transpired leading to the expulsion of the country from the World Cup.
“We have the agenda for our meeting, we want this meeting as early as possible, even tomorrow,” said the councillor.
Last week the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa, while absolving his Ministry from the Zifa mess said the control and the right to withdraw the Zifa board mandate lies with the assembly.
“While all criticism has mainly been targeted at the Zifa Board, my Ministry notes that control of the Board vests in the Zifa Assembly. The latter, therefore, are equally if not more culpable for the goings-on in Zifa.The Zifa Assembly are the ones who voted the Zifa Board into office and it is them who can exercise the prerogative to withdraw their mandate, or to take any other concrete action that demonstrates their resolve to ensure that there is professionalism in the administration of our football,” Minister Langa said in his press release.
According to Article 28, sub-section Two of the Zifa constitution, the executive committee shall convene an extraordinary congress if one third of the members of the Zifa make such a request in writing. The request shall specify the items for the agenda. An extraordinary congress shall be held within three months of the request. If an extraordinary congress is not convened, the members who requested it may convene the congress themselves. As a last resort, the members may request assistance from Caf or Fifa.
Sub-section Three says the members shall be notified of the place, date and agenda at least 14 days before the date of the extraordinary congress.
Part of subsection Four reads:
“When an extraordinary congress is convened upon the request of members, the agenda must contain the points raised by those members.”
The agenda of an extraordinary congress may not be altered, according to Sub-section (5) of the Zifa constitution.
While a third of the Zifa members may call for an extraordinary congress, any resolution passed needs to have a two-thirds majority.
Zifa assembly members
For the 16 clubs of the Premier Soccer League (1 delegate each), Northern Region Division One (four delegates), Southern Region Division One (four delegates), Eastern Region Division One (four delegates), Central Region Division One (four delegates), Bulawayo provincial League ( one delegate), Harare provincial League (one delegate), Manicaland provincial League (one delegate), Mashonaland Central provincial League (one delegate), Mashonaland East provincial League (one delegate), Mashonaland West provincial League (one delegate), Masvingo provincial league (one delegate), Matabeleland South provincial League (one delegate), Matabeleland North provincial League (one delegate), Midlands provincial League (one delegate), Four Area Zones (one delegate each), Naph (two delegates), Nash (two delegates), National Association of Tertiary Institutions (two delegates), Zimbabwe Women Soccer (four delegates), beach football (one delegate), futsal football (one delegate).
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