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Henrietta Rushwaya

Sports Reporter
ZIFA have lifted the life ban imposed on their former chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya with immediate effect. The national football governing body announced yesterday that the life ban imposed on Rushwaya for her alleged role in match-fixing cases, had now been lifted. Philip Chiyangwa, the ZIFA president who is also the head of COSAFA, made the announcement in a statement released last night.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) would like to inform the football fraternity of the lifting of a life ban from all Association football imposed on Ms Henrietta Rushwaya with immediate effect,” Chiyangwa, who is in Morocco on CAF business, said. “The ban was handed down in the wake of the Asiagate and Limpopogate match-fixing scandals.

“The lifting of the ban follows extensive consultations, investigations and Ms Rushwaya’s utmost and impressive cooperation into both matters. “The national association hopes that Ms Rushwaya will now channel her energy positively into the development of football across the board.

“It should be noted that, as recent events will show, that football is on an upward trajectory and we welcome such positive steps and contributions to the development of the game in general.” Rushwaya said last night she will only issue a detailed response in due course.

“I think you can understand that this is quite overwhelming given the gravity of the situation that I was under for some time and such developments tend to take time to sink in,’’ she said. In due course, after I have settled, I will issue my response but I want to thank the ZIFA president Dr Philip Chiyangwa for putting the interests of the game ahead of just personal battles which had dragged our football into the quagmire. It’s refreshing that things are changing in our national game and let’s give him all the support that he needs because he has proved a lot of people wrong.’’