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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) finance and administration manager Benjamin Dhewa yesterday told the court that the association financed a Mighty Warriors trip to Ghana last year but did not receive any money from Zimbabwe Women’s Football Association. This is contrary to earlier statements by suspended Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League chairperson Miriam Sibanda (54), and her two accomplices Benny Mamoche (45) and Fungai Magoswongwe (35), who said they used $20 000 sourced by the league to finance the same trip.

Testifying in court, Dhewa said all national teams are a responsibility of ZIFA. “They are allowed to source funds which they must remit to ZIFA and received confirmation of receipt of the money,” said Dhewa.

“We never received anything from the Zimbabwe Women Football Association and we don’t know how the money was used. Zimbabwe Women Football Association is an affiliate of ZIFA and their purpose is to run women soccer.

“I know nothing about this money and let me not comment on it.” Dhewa added that ZIFA paid allowances for players as they camped, trained and travelled to Ghana on March 21, 2015. “Did Sibanda finance her trip to Ghana?” asked prosecutor Mrs Lionellah Chitanda-Matowa.

Dhewa said he did not know if Sibanda was part of the selected delegates. “Did ZIFA finance former deputy minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Tabeth Kanengoni Malinga’s transport costs to Ghana?” asked Mrs Matowa, to which Dhewa advised her to look for the list of delegates.

The magistrate Ms Vongai Muchuchutu asked the prosecutor to enlighten the court what evidence she was trying to adduce. “ZIFA financed the same trip which the accused said money they sourced was used for,” replied Mrs Matowa. “Why is he on the witness stand if he doesn’t know the evidence you are leading. I am adjourning the trial and discuss with your witness,” said Ms Muchuchuti.