Zifa dissolution: Zimunya demands fresh elections Phillip Chiyangwa

Sports Reporter
FORMER ZIFA board member Francis Zimunya wants fresh elections to choose a new domestic football leadership following the dissolution of the association at the weekend.

Zimunya, who is now chairman of the Lifelong Footballers Trust of Zimbabwe, backed Trevor Carelse-Juul in his battle against Philip Chiyangwa for the ZIFA presidency last year.

Chiyangwa trounced Carelse-Juul and the Harare business mogul has charmed the nation after leading the Warriors to their first Nations Cup qualification in 10 years.

His leadership has also ensured that Zimbabwe will not be thrown out of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers by paying off the debt owed to Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet.

TOPICAL: CHIYANGWA, ZIFA, WARRIORS

Chiyangwa pushed for the dissolution of ZIFA, which is weighed down by a $6 million debt, to ensure that the game gets a fresh start and is protected from those who are owed by the association.

The move has since been supported by FIFA. Zimunya, accompanied by Chris Sambo, who is the Lifelong Footballers Trust of Zimbabwe consultant, yesterday handed a letter to the Sports Commission acting director-general Joseph Muchechetere, questioning the dissolution of ZIFA and the legitimacy of the new organisation.

“In terms of the SRC Act, a constitution of any association should be registered first by the Sports Commission before operations commence. So, which constitution did they use to hold elections at the weekend when ZIFA had been dissolved?

“Article 77 of the ZIFA constitution on dissolution states that ‘any decision relating to the dissolution of ZIFA requires a majority of three-quarters of all of the members of ZIFA, which must be obtained at a congress specially convened for the purpose.’ Was the congress specially convened for that? Was the issue of dissolution on the agenda in the first place?

“The constitution further states: ‘If ZIFA is disbanded, its assets shall be transferred to the Sports and Recreation Commission. It shall hold these assets in trust as ‘bonus pater familiae’ until ZIFA is re-established.

“The final Congress may, however, choose another recipient for the assets on the basis of a three-quarters majority.’

“Have all these provisions of the constitution been followed? The former ZIFA board’s term of office was supposed to end in 2018 and now we hear that a new Assembly was set up and an election was done, which transformed the old ZIFA Council into a new organisation.

“Our question is, which constitution was used to elect this new board and were the SRC statutes followed? Who gave the former ZIFA councillors the mandate to vote each other into office?”

But Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association leader Eddie Mboma Nyatanga said Zimunya and his team were trying to cause confusion.

“It’s a shame that these people were in ‘hiding’ when the leadership of football were securing resources in these tough times. Last week they ensured that the players report for national duty for our biggest game in 10 years,” said Nyatanga.

“The same people were in ‘hiding’ when more than $100 000 was needed to ensure that everything is in place, including the match fees for the match officials, players and technical staff.

“Now, because we have qualified for AFCON they believe it is time for them to present their arguments and we dismiss that with all the contempt it deserves.

“The ZIFA Congress is the most powerful organ in the association and they should read the constitution and they will understand that this organ wields a lot of influence in shaping Zimbabwe football and that meeting was duly convened and that is what matters.”

 

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