Zimpapers Logo

Henrietta Rushwaya

Prosper Dembedza Court Correspondent
Former ZIFA chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya yesterday appeared in court accused of organising the “Limpopogate” match-fixing scandal together with her accomplices by attempting to bribe Zimbabwe national soccer team players to lose games against Swaziland in February.

Rushwaya (49) was charged with bribery when she appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe.

She was granted $100 bail.

As part of her bail conditions, she was ordered to report once a week at CID Serious Frauds, not to interfere with State witnesses and to reside at her given address.

Allegations are that between January and February this year Rushwaya – working in cahoots with Edzai Kasinauyo, Ian Gorowa and Nation Dube – was involved in acts of soccer match fixing targeting South African Premier Soccer League teams.

The court heard that Rushwaya together with Leeroy Kundishora Waguta, who turned out to be the whistle blower, were working in connivance with Chan Sankran, a well-known Asian match fixer who was the financier.

In February, it is alleged that Rushwaya and his accomplices agreed to fix the AFCON qualifiers matches between Swaziland and Zimbabwe scheduled for March 25 and 28 2016 in Mbabane and Harare respectively. They agreed to offer bribes to Zimbabwe national soccer team players as an inducement to lose the game.

It is alleged that they agreed to implement their plan after announcement of the team selected to play against Swaziland.

It is the State’s case that as a result Kasinauyo was tasked to put pressure on Warriors coach Kallisto Pasuwa to prematurely announce the list of players or leak the list to the syndicate.

It is alleged that they agreed to target three players – a goalkeeper and two defenders.

The court heard that Waguta alerted the coach of the plot to bribe the players and fix the matches.

He assured the coach that he would constantly update him with progress of Rushwaya’s plans.

The court heard that after the delay in announcing the players, Rushwaya identified Tatenda Mukuruva as the probable goalkeeper. Gorowa phoned Mukuruva inviting him to South Africa purporting that he wanted him for trials with the aim of luring him into their deal.

It is alleged that Mukuruva informed Pasuwa of the plan again.

Pasuwa, it is alleged constantly received information from Waguta at the same time Kasinauyo kept on pressurising him for the release of the list of players.

As a result Pasuwa could not contain the pressure and finally informed ZIFA president Dr Philip Chiyangwa.

The court heard that on March 10, ZIFA chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze reported the matter to the police leading to Rushwaya’s arrest.