Zina secretary-general resigns

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Netball Association (Zina) Bulawayo Province secretary-general Loviniah Bhebhe has resigned with immediate effect, a month after her controversial suspension.

In her letter of resignation addressed to Zina provincial chairperson Joseph Nkomazana and copied to the Zina national executive, Bhebhe said she took the decision to step down following her “media influenced suspension by Nkomazana”.

Bhebhe was last month “suspended” by Nkomazana over an Africa Day netball tournament held at Sobukhazi High School that saw teams blatantly flouting Covid-19 health guidelines.

Her suspension, however, was riddled with controversy after sources said she was suspended for being suspected of working with the breakaway Rainbow Amateur Netball League (Ranl).

“It is with great honour and respect that I tender this resignation letter from the position of interim secretary-general I held in your organisation. It is with regret that my departure is unceremonious as a result of the media influenced suspension that your office initiated.

It was nice and very educative to be under your quality leadership and I will forever cherish and would like to wish you all the best in identifying, educating, training and evaluating the girl child through netball into modern professional players,” Bhebhe wrote in her resignation letter.

Asked about her next move, Bhebhe said she wasn’t sure yet, but for now she would be concentrating on her role in the Prevention Netball League that has over 20 teams.

The league was formed to highlight awareness on HIV/Aids prevention and the need for people to stay positive and also fight stigmatising those living with HIV/Aids.

In a bid to contribute in the fight against Covid-19 as well as complementing Government’s effort towards achieving full herd immunity, the league said no player will be allowed to participate without being vaccinated.

“For now we encourage players to go and get vaccinated. When games start, everyone should be vaccinated as no player will be allowed to play without being vaccinated,” said Bhebhe.