Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
LEADERS of Zimbabwean basketball will meet in Gweru on 24 January with one big problem hanging over the room, how the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (BUZ) is supposed to function with two men claiming the top seat.
The central board meeting, called by BUZ, will pull together provincial presidents, executive committee members and the treasurer-general as the sport tries to steady itself after a congress that failed to produce a single president.
That November congress ended in confusion and an unprecedented outcome, David Pick and Johnson Shumba were declared co-presidents after delegates could not separate them even after multiple rounds of voting. The result has left BUZ operating in a shared leadership set up that is already under pressure from the authorities.
The Sport and Recreation Commission has since written to BUZ asking for clarity on how the two presidents will share power and who carries final responsibility when decisions must be signed off.
Officials close to the situation say the commission wants a clear structure, not a handshake agreement.
International Basketball Federation (Fiba) has also weighed in, suggesting a practical way out of the stalemate, one president serves two years, then hands over to the other for the remaining two years of the four year term. BUZ has not formally confirmed whether it will adopt that route, but the proposal has been discussed in the background.
BUZ secretary-general Ignatius Yesaya said the Gweru meeting is meant to put structure back into the union’s work and deal with the governance issues now on the table.
“It will provide a platform for provincial leaders and executive members to share ideas, align on priorities, and strengthen programs for players and clubs across the country. One of the key items on the agenda is the review of our constitution, as we are still operating under the 2010 version.
“Following the congress in November, the decision was made to undertake this review. We have shared the draft with the provinces for their input and this now represents the final step toward adopting a new constitution.
“Additionally, we will focus on developing a strategic and operational plan for the next four years, outlining what we aim to achieve during our tenure. We also intend to establish a clear strategy for managing our finances to ensure full compliance with the Sport Recreation Commission (SRC).”
The constitution review has become urgent because the current rules were never designed for a situation where two people are declared president at the same time, leaving grey areas on authority, accountability and who speaks for the game nationally.
Pick and Shumba have both publicly committed to working together, with officials around them pushing a model where responsibilities are split to keep projects moving while the union finds a permanent solution. But inside basketball circles, the worry is that divided power can quickly turn into divided loyalties, especially when tough calls on money and selection have to be made.
Beyond the leadership storm, BUZ will also use the meeting to assess ongoing programmes and map out the next four years, including how to support clubs, coaches and players in provinces that have long complained about being left behind. The union is betting that a clear plan and a new constitution can calm the noise before it spills into the courts.
