Zimpapers Logo

Jonathan Mashingaidze

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter—
Zimbabwe Football Association chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze’s charges of criminally defaming the association’s former chief executive, Ms Henrietta Rushwaya, when the Asiagate scandal was unearthed were withdrawn by the prosecution yester- day. Mashingaidze (47) pleaded not guilty to criminal defamation charges and prosecutor Mrs Idah Maromo applied to have the matter withdrawn.

“Charges against the accused are based on the old Constitution and are ultra vires the new Constitution,” said Mr Maganga. “The ConCourt ordered that State withdraws charges so that the matter can be struck off.” Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo withdrew the matter at the instance of the State.

It was alleged that on June 12, 2012 at midday, national team soccer players Ovidy Karuru and Knowledge Musona were in camp at Pandhari Lodge preparing for a match against Buru- ndi.

Karuru decided to pass by Ms Rushwaya’s office on his way to meet another national team player, Thomas Sweswe, for a business deal, but she was not there. Karuru met Sweswe, another player, Zhaimu Jambo, and Musona and they all waited for Ms Rushwaya, but later left after she did not turn up. At the traffic intersection along Enterprise Road near Newlands Shopping Centre, Karuru and Musona were stopped by Mashingaidze who asked what they were doing at Ms Rushwaya’s office.

Around 8pm, Mashingaidze allegedly gave interviews to reporters that matches between Zimbabwe and Guinea, and Zimbabwe and Mozambique which had just been played might have been fixed after two players were seen coming from Ms Rushwaya’s office.

The statement read: “Four Warriors players, two of whom played in the Guinea and Mozambique matches, were yesterday allegedly caught red-handed having lunch with Asiagate suspects. “We confronted the players . . . and told them what their actions meant to Zimbabwe . . . this is a serious issue and we are going to talk to relevant security organs in the country.”

It was alleged that the defamatory information was widely publicised on ZTV sports news bulletins and in The Herald and NewsDay newspapers and on the internet and social networks.