IN a sensational twist, correspondence has emerged showing
that Chamu Chiwanza was thrust into the leadership structures of Conduit Soccer
Academy, way back as 2011.
And, along the way, he gained the five years of experience
needed to contest for a post on the Zifa board by the time the polls were held
last December.
It has also emerged that from January 2011, he was chairman
of the Zimbabwe Women Football Rebranding and Fundraising Committee.
The Harare businessman was last week pushed out of the Zifa
board after the association’s disciplinary committee ruled he was guilty of
misrepresenting facts that he had eight years of experience in football
administration prior to seeking a position on the executive committee.
The disciplinary committee endorsed the decision that had
been taken by the Zifa emergency committee on the same subject in July this
year.
“We refer to the above matter. We advise that the
disciplinary board deliberated on your matter on the 14th of August 2019 at
Zifa House boardroom,’’ Zifa chief executive Joseph Mamutse wrote to Chiwanza
last week.
“We advise that you were found guilty in respect to two
charges which are:
1. Fraud in that you misrepresented facts that
you had 8 years’ experience in football, more particularly that you were the
Secretary General of Conduit Soccer Academy. It was held that that was a
misrepresentation of facts as the said Conduit Soccer Academy denied that you
were ever employed by it or that you were involved in the administration of its
affairs.
2. Bringing the game of football into disrepute, in that
you contravened article 60 of the Zifa constitution which specifically
prohibits taking football matters to the formal courts. It was found that you
disregarded this article and filed an urgent chamber application at the High
Court against the Association and its president.
“Consequently the disciplinary board made a penalty that
you be expelled from being an Executive committee member of Zimbabwe Football
Association.’’
The Zifa emergency committee had ruled in July that
Chiwanza had presented “fake credentials to the Zifa Electoral Committee in
2018 elections by fraudulently misleading that you had the requisite 5 years
from a certain football club when this was not the case, as is prescribed in
article 32(4) of the Zifa constitution.’’
However, correspondence has surfaced which shows that
Chiwanza, in fact, received that appointment from Conduit Soccer Academy from
way back in 2011 and this was again confirmed by an email that was sent in
January this year.
The developments also puts into question the operations of
the Zifa judicial bodies, especially the disciplinary committee, which is led
by a lawyer.
A letter from Conduit Soccer Academy in January 2011,
bearing the signature of Givemore Chidhakwa, in his capacity as Cosa
vice-president, to Chiwanza, confirms the appointment.
“We wish to advise that after having gone through interview
with various interested parties, we have unanimously agreed to appoint you as
the secretary-general for Cosa with effect from January 1, 2011, until further
communication,’’ the letter reads.
“We are confident Cosa will benefit from your expertise and
we shall be giving you all the support that you require to discharge your
duties.’’
Chidhakwa is now the chairman of Futsal. On January 25 this year, Adonis Sithole, the Cosa
treasurer, also confirmed Chiwanza’s appointment in an email which was copied
to Chidhakwa and acting Zifa vice-president Philemon Machana, who is the Cosa
boss.
“Herewith is your letter of appointment as Cosa
secretary-general,’’ Sithole said in the email.
However, about a month earlier, Sithole had written to
Mamutse expressing a different position.
“Conduit Soccer Academy is in possession of your
correspondence dated 20th Decemeber 2018, in relation to the above subject
matter,’’ Sithole wrote.
“Conduit Soccer Academy would like to confirm that at no
point has Mr Chamunorwa Chiwanza been a member of Conduit Soccer Academy.
“Mr Chamunorwa Chiwanza has also never held any position at
Conduit Soccer Academy since its inception.
“Should you require further information please do not
hesitate to contact the undersigned treasurer.’’
Former Zimbabwe Women Football chairperson, Mavis Gumbo,
also wrote to Chiwanza, in his capacity as chairman of the ZWF Rebranding and
Fundraising Committee, on January 19, 2011.
“We hereby request your esteemed office to facilitate the
provision of financial and material resources towards the tour of Germany by
the Senior National Women’s team tour of Germany from 22 July 2011 to 6 August
2011,’’ Gumbo wrote.
“The tour is part of the exchange programme between
Zimbabwe and Germany and should see the teams training and playing friendly
matches in Germany.
“Please be advised that the resources mobilised by your
committee will cover the costs of airfares, allowances, contingency and
apparel.’’
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Chiwanza were
unfruitful yesterday with the businessman saying he had been advised by his
legal team not to discuss the issue in the media.
“I think you guys will appreciate that this is a sensitive
issue, where my character has been assassinated, and my legal team have said I
should not discuss it in the media and I hope you can bear with me.’’ Herald
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