THIRTY-TWO Zifa councillors accused of receiving bribes in
the run-up to the 2018 Zifa national elections that ushered in Felton Kamambo’s
administration are set to appear in court on August 25.
According to police sources, all but five of the 32
councillors were co-operating with police investigations and their statements
were recorded.
The five hostile councillors are from Midlands province and
refused to give recorded statements, but they’re still set to appear in court
in what would be a historic criminal case in the history of Zimbabwean
football.
The 32 are alleged to have received bribes from a candidate
in the build-up to the polls that saw Kamambo shocking then incumbent Phillip
Chiyangwa for the Zifa top post.
Kamambo got 35 votes to Chiyangwa’s 24, while another
challenger Gift Banda beat Omega Sibanda by 37 to 22 votes for the
association’s vice-presidency post.
Investigations later revealed that some councillors’ mobile
money wallets were credited with various amounts totalling $8 110.
The official exchange rate then of the local currency and
US dollar was 1:1. Police also interviewed the Zifa executive committee member
accused of “bribing” the councillors and he reportedly confirmed sending the
money, but said it was for “lunch” and other “incidentals”.
Those targeted received amounts ranging from $100 to $1
700, depending on how “influential” they were perceived to be.
A councillor from Matabeleland North, one from Bulawayo and
others from Harare are reported to have been the biggest beneficiaries.
One of the 32 accused councillors Mehluli Thebe, a Zifa
Southern Region executive committee member, confessed in June to receiving $300
from one Robert, who said it was from Kamambo.
Thebe, however, insisted that the money sent via EcoCash
was never hush money, but reimbursement for his traveling expenses to and from
Hwange as well as accommodation.
Thebe said there was no way he would have used his own
money to travel to Bulawayo to listen to a candidate, so those that wanted his
ear met all his expenses.
Thebe also argued that his vote was a secret and no one can
conclusively say the $300 he received influenced his voting.
A police source yesterday told Chronicle Sport that the
dockets were ready and they’re confident they have a strong case for some
convictions.
“Trial date is August 25, all the papers are ready. We
interviewed all, but five councillors in this case.
The five from the Midlands were not co-operating, but
that’s not a big issue, they will have their day in court,” said the police
source. Chronicle
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