Zifa probe referee Kajiva

investigations into reports that local referee – Gift Kajiva – travelled to the United Arab Emirates to handle an international match under shadowy circumstances.
Zifa’s probe into allegations that the Warriors were involved in match-fixing scams on trips to Asian countries is finalising the second and final phase of its report with the investigating committee’s leader Ndumiso Gumede indicating that it could be completed by the end of the week.
Gumede leads a team that also includes board member for competitions Benedict Moyo, Eastern Region chairman Fungai Chihuri and board member finance Elliot Kasu.
The quartet spent the better part of last week compiling more submission from various individuals who travelled on Warriors’ tours of duty to such countries like Malaysia, Yemen, Singapore, Jordan, China and Vietnam.
The issue was discussed at both the Zifa board and council meeting at the weekend with the investigating committee saying they needed, at least, three more weeks to finalise their report.
The committee said they wanted to interview one last key person, who could help them unlock certain cases, and once that it is done, they will then present a report.
Gumede, who is also the Zifa first vice-president, said he would then submit his report to association president Cuthbert Dube who will subsequently report to the board and the Sport and Recreation Commission.
But as Gumede prepares to submit his findings, Zifa were yesterday taken aback by reports that Harare referee Kajiva had stepped in to replace Fifa panel official Ruzive Ruzive at last Friday night’s international between Kuwait and Jordan.
The match was scheduled for Sharjah in the UAE and Kuwait Football Association had requested for the services of Ruzive, Cosmas Chafa and Oswald Mukucha. But Zifa were questioning the decision by the Kuwait FA to specifically request referees from Zimbabwe to take charge of their national team’s match against Jordan, when they could have sought such officials from neighbouring countries or those within their continent.
“We are pleased to invite the following international referees from your association to officiate the following international friendly match: Kuwait senior national team versus Jordan senior national team to be played in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on 25 March.
“Kuwait FA shall undertake to send return air tickets (economy class) for Dubai-Zimbabwe and pay their daily allowances as per Fifa regulations, accommodation in first class hotel for during the period of their stay,” read part of a letter from Kuwait FA general secretary Saho Al Saho Al Shammari.
It has also emerged that former Zifa programmes officer Jonathan Musavengana had been phoning the trio of Ruzive, Chafa and Mukucha to try and entice them to take up the Kuwait invitation. But when the Fifa referees turned him down, Musavengana, who is also being investigated by Zifa for masquerading as a match official, is understood to have turned to Kajiva with whom he reportedly travelled out of the country for that mission.
Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze confirmed that his association was now investigating the matter and were concerned about that Musavengana’s name had resurfaced in the shadowy deals related to the trips Asia.
“We also find it strange that Kuwait would want referees from as far as Zimbabwe just for an international friendly and unlike normal procedure, they want specific names.
“We are still coming to terms with the disappointment that none of our referees was included by Caf on the panel of referees at the CHAN tournament and we would want to only improve our standards but also ensure that we have a clean image and such disturbing reports peg us back. As Zifa we will also formally seek Fifa’s help to try and get to the root of this matter and establish the role of the Kuwait FA in all this.
“I received calls from an official claiming to be from the Kuwait FA who kept on asking for our referees.
“We are also told that Musavengana has been pestering local officials about going for the same assignment and we wonder how he comes into the equation when he has since been fired by Zifa,” Mashingaidze said.
It has also emerged that although he had indicated that he would be retiring from the local panel, Kajiva is technically still a Zifa referee as the 2011 panel of officials will only be finalised tomorrow.
Away from the Asiagate scam, Gumede also revealed that the Zifa board had tasked their lawyer Ralph Maganga to institute legal proceedings to recover the association’s vehicles which they are believe are still in the possession of former chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya.
Gumede said Zifa had, through the office of their former patron, the late Vice President Joseph Msika received some vehicles from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe as well as another truck procured through the Confederation of African Football’s development initiatives.
“We have tasked Maganga with taking a civil route to recover some of the assets we believe belong to Zifa and should have been handed over when the contract of the former CEO (Rushwaya) was terminated,” Gumede said.