ZIFA have come out guns blazing and dared Norton House of
Assembly representative Temba Mliswa to come to the airport and effect a
citizen’s arrest on the Zifa officials upon their arrival from the Total Africa
cup of Nations tournament that is underway in Egypt.
In a 2 000 letter strongly worded statement released by the
board on Tuesday, the association also named one Hope Chizuzu of spreading
malicious lies about the operations of the association via his social media
account which it said was having a negative impact on the team, that takes on
Uganda in its second Group A match this evening.
“We specifically note with concern unfounded attacks by
some few individuals on social media and other platforms who include one Hope
Chizuzu a staffer at the City of Harare’s PR department, and most recently
uninformed outbursts by Member of Parliament for Norton Hon Temba Mliswa. Most
worrying to ZIFA is the negativity that their outbursts, comments and stories
have on the bigger national cause of fundraising for the Warriors who are doing
duty in Egypt and the negative influences these irresponsible articles may have
on the team,” reads the statement.
The association said it was particularly concerned that
Honourable Mlisa had chosen to jump onto the accusation train without trying to
verify the claims of misappropriation of funds and has since threatened to
effect a citizen’s arrest on officials calling his actions unparliamentary.
“It is also disappointing that Hon Mliswa has also jumped
into the fray without seeking to satisfy himself with the available
evidence. He has even claimed he will
issue out citizen arrest on ZIFA officials on these untested allegations. As a
lawmaker, one would expect the legislator to be fully conversant with the laws
of the land.
ZIFA is well prepared for his threats. Maybe by alleging,
trying and convicting ZIFA, Hon Mliswa is himself telling the nation that all
the allegations that have previously been levelled against him including taking
bribes the latest one being the US$400 000 extortion attempt are all true, for
laws are universal. Hon Mliswa must be reminded that he is not above the law.
Trying to say everything while basically saying nothing is un-parliamentary,”
read the zifa statement.
The felton kamambo led board also dismissed entirely
allegations by Chizuzu that Zifa
officials converted to their own personal use US$740 000, saying those
allegations were baseless and dishonest by persons who are bent of propagating
falsehood.
“ZIFA did not breach any law by moving money in
anticipation of a threat on the accounts and this is not a crime. It is a fact
that ZIFA at the material time in January resolved to temporarily move funds
away from some accounts while beginning the process of paying these creditors
from its alternative resources.
“Out of the abundance of caution, ZIFA authorised the
temporary movement of funds and authorised the payment of a creditor who was
threatening to garnish funds meant for football development. As soon as the
creditor was fully paid her dues, the funds were moved back into the ZIFA bank
account. These funds were never
transacted on in the nine days when they were not in the ZIFA account.
ZIFA should be credited for saving funds meant for football
development. There are bank statements
to prove this point. Sadly, Chizuzu who has these statements has chosen to
mislead people via social media,” wrote Zifa.
The statement also says they are external negative forces
who are bent on destabilising the association yet claiming they are for
football development. Herald
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