FORMER Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa is in trouble
following a cocktail of allegations in which he is accused of stealing money
from the association’s bank account, fraud, abuse of office and
misappropriation of funds.
Chiyangwa was the Zifa president until December last year
when he lost to Felton Kamambo in an election.
However, months after he had ceased to be the leader of the
association, Chiyangwa allegedly went on to withdraw a total of US$30 000 from
a Zifa Ecobank foreign currency account without authority.
A bank statement, seen by NewsDay Sport, shows that Chiyangwa
on three occasions made withdraws of US$10 000 in February this year, over two
months after he had been dislodged.
The records show that on February 13, he withdrew US$10
000, before returning the following day to take out a similar amount.
Zifa, through their lawyers Ngarava, Moyo and Chikono,
reported the case, among others, to the Commercial Crimes Unit (CCU) at the
Harare Central Police Station on November 20. The case’s docket reference
number is 39/11/19.
“We are instructed to, as we hereby do, lodge our complaint
for further handling and investigations by yourselves on behalf of our client
against Philip Chiyangwa, who is the former president of Zifa. Our client has a
genuine belief that the acts detailed hereunder and allegedly committed by Mr
Chiyangwa constitute a criminal offence and that he should be prosecuted.”
“Mr P Chiyangwa made some several cash withdrawals from the
Zifa Ecobank foreign currency (Nostro) account between January 2019 and
February 2019. The monies withdrawn by him were committed to his personal use
since they were not remitted to Zifa. Further, the withdrawals were done
without the approval and authorisation of the duly elected Zifa executive
committee.
“Bank statements in support of the cash withdrawals shall
be availed to you upon demand on request. To date, our client has not received
the money withdrawn by Mr P Chiyangwa. The cash withdrawals were done in the
sum of US$10 000 per transaction.”
Before reporting the case, Zifa wrote to Chiyangwa on
September 2, requesting an explanation. He didn’t respond, prompting the
association to make a police report.
“We have come across fishy transactions that were carried
out directly for your benefit and at your instigation and in most cases also
signed by you as one of the then signatories (before December 2018), and in
2019 when you had long ceased to be an official of Zifa as well as a signatory.
We have a report of these dubious transactions but would want your side of the
story before we take the necessary decisive steps.
“We have observed that you personally went on various
occasions between January and February to the FA’s bankers to withdraw hard US
dollar cash irrespective of the fact that you ceased to be a Zifa authorised
signatory after your election loss in December 2018 and that Zifa had not
completed any indemnity forms to allow you such access to its bank accounts and
resources.
“Kindly, therefore, explain the circumstances that led you
to carry out such irregular transactions. Also equally, explain and provide
documentary proof on the basis of your withdrawals and any justification for
what would appear outrightly criminal on the face value. We have perused our
documents and have not seen where you may have advanced US dollars to the FA to
the tune of the amounts you withdrew, neither have we seen any services that
you provided which may have warranted your illegal self-help actions,” read
part of the letter which was written to Chiyangwa.
In the same police report, Zifa also made other charges
against Chiyangwa bordering on criminal abuse of power, fraud and
misappropriation of the association’s funds and resources.
Late last month, Chiyangwa pressed charges against Kamambo
and his deputy Philemon Machana after the two sent him text messages that the
politician said caused him “annoyance”.
Kamambo’s messages that got him into trouble read; “Hie
president. You are urged to stop your funny and negative interferences with
football. Meanwhile, urgently start accounting for all Zifa money you stole.”
When contacted to respond to the allegations, Chiyangwa
through his lawyer Itai Ndudzo initially said: “Blatant nonsense peddled by
confused low-lifers. During my term as Zifa president I donated millions to
keep the game going. I did not take a cent back. I am too blessed to steal. How
could I take money from a bank account that I am not a signatory? Let us be
serious please. Check the 2016, 2017, 2018 audited accounts for Zifa, they are
self speaking to how squeaky clean I am. I have no time for this hogwash. I
have multi-million-dollar businesses to run.”
However, later Chiyangwa personally responded saying: “On
the morning of the elective congress I went to the Zifa Village to pay serious
money to the U-23 team that had come back and were threatening to come
demonstrate at the congress. I paid that plus other debts outstanding.
“I was no longer signatory, ask those who conjured the
payment as to why did they pay since I was no longer a signatory or executive.
I bankrolled Zifa with friends as well as that it accrued significant debts to
me. This is a clear story from those who have not told you why they signed
payments to me after my term.”
Chiyangwa said he had instructed his lawyer to take
appropriate legal action on those levelling criminal allegations against him.
Newsday
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