adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Sports Reporter
ZIFA has come out guns blazing and strongly refuted reports that it has snubbed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture chaired by Temba Mliswa. In a statement last night, Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela, said the national association was shocked by reports in certain sections of the media that it had mastered the art of playing cat and mouse games with the government.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) would like to inform the football fraternity and the nation that it is flabbergasted by some unfortunate and blatantly false reports being peddled by some within the media fraternity. These outrageous reports claim that Zifa is snubbing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture.
“The Zifa board met on Friday and deliberated on a number of issues including this alleged no show by Zifa before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee,” said Gwesela.
He said Zifa was never invited, verbally or otherwise, for any of the sittings and had since resolved to write a letter of complaint to the Clerk of Parliament.
“If the letter was indeed sent then documentary proof has to be produced to prove that Zifa was indeed served with the said letter. It is against this background that the board resolved that a letter be written to the Clerk of Parliament to register our displeasure with how this issue was handled,” said Gwesela.
He said Zifa had received negative publicity in the print, electronic and online media and some “overzealous elements” in online media had insinuated that Zifa had vast experience “in cat and mouse games” with the Government.
“Let it be known to all and sundry that Zifa enjoys a cordial relationship with government. Zifa has appeared before previous Parliamentary committees and respects Parliament as a strategic arm of government”.
Gwesela said the board, led by Cuthbert Dube, believes that meeting the said committee was the best opportunity for Zifa to make a presentation on the state of football and the numerous challenges the association was facing.
The Association was more than prepared to send a high powered delegation to Parliament because Zifa was a law abiding institution registered in terms of the Zifa constitution and affiliated to the Sports and Recreation Commission in terms of the Sports and Recreation Act. “There is definitely no way it will show disregard to Parliament. The allegations that Zifa is dodging parliament are therefore malicious and should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. We are of the considered opinion that the ghastly and negative reportage is a deliberate attempt by some malcontents to malign the integrity of the association,” said Gwesela.
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