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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
ZIFA Southern Region clubs have vowed to go ahead with their planned emergency general meeting at the Bulawayo offices tomorrow despite the provincial leadership deeming the meeting unconstitutional and a non-event.
Speaking after the Andrew Tapela led board barred the meeting from taking place, Indlovu Iyanyathela manager Blessing Mbwanda said clubs will not be giving in to the demands of the leadership.
“As far as we are concerned, whatever is written in that letter that tries to stop the meeting is null and void. We did not request them to give a date for the meeting but we actually invited them to come to the meeting,” said Mbwanda.
“Whether they are coming or not, the meeting is going on. I am surprised that the chairman ran to the Press and used such strong words. We will deal with that after the meeting. We want to deal with football business first because those are personal attacks.
“The meeting will go ahead as scheduled so we don’t fear anyone. Whatever they are saying about the constitution they are the ones who are actually manipulating the constitution.
Rumours are already circulating that the Zifa offices will be closed tomorrow to try and stop the meeting.
“The meeting will be held at Zifa offices whether inside or outside. Why is he running away from the clubs when they are the ones who elected him into the office? We have a lot of issues that need to be clarified.
“He is talking about the constitution, what does the constitution say about his mandate? It’s illegal for him to be talking about Southern Region business. He is actually illegal, he doesn’t know the constitution if he knew the constitution he was to look for us and sit down with us and we will give him another term.
“As clubs we are fed up with Mickey Mouse games. We know what he is trying to run away from. There is missing money and we were promised money that never came. I cannot pre-empt everything here that is why we are calling for the meeting,” said Mbwanda.
Last month, the clubs had their attempt to force the regional executive to call for a meeting within five days hitting a brick wall, with the Zifa Southern Region chairman Tapela highlighting it was unconstitutional.
Earlier this month, the clubs filed another petition where 14 out of the 17 teams appended signatures to a letter dated 3 December, with the subject “Notice to hold an Emergency General Meeting” indicating that they will congregate on 19 December at the Zifa Bulawayo offices.
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