Zimpapers Logo

Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
SPORT, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa has urged Zifa board members to bury their differences and rally behind the country’s 2017 Afcon bid whose document was submitted to CAF on Tuesday. Langa’s call comes after reports emerged that some board members were neither consulted nor told that there were intentions to bid for the Nations Cup, originally awarded to Libya who later pulled out due to civil strife.

Board members who spoke to this publication accused the association’ president Cuthbert Dube of giving too much power to chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze while side-lining them on key decisions and projects that Zifa was undertaking.

They claimed that no consultations were done with one Harare board member, saying he learnt through the Press that Zimbabwe was going to bid to host the 2017 Nations Cup finals.
Mashingaidze arrived in the country last night from Egypt where he had gone to submit the Zimbabwean bid.

“I am not aware of any differences within the Zifa board, but if there are any, I would really like to urge them to work together, especially for the success of our bid,” said Langa.
“We have already gone public that the Government of Zimbabwe is ready, my colleagues in Cabinet have given us their support and indeed the President appended his signature on the document so why should we have dissenting voices from Zifa.

“I really would want to urge the Zifa board members to pull in the same direction, the awarding will be good for the nation.”
Langa said Zimbabweans, including those in the Diaspora, should support the bid and market Zimbabwe as a safe tourism destination.

Algeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania have submitted their bids to host the 2017 Nations Cup finals.
Zimbabwe initially wanted to present a joint bid with Zambia and then later Botswana but both countries turned down the requests.