HARARE, Zimbabwe — Tennis Zimbabwe President Walter Jera has been officially removed from office, with the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) endorsing a decision made at a special general meeting on May 31.
The SRC’s confirmation follows a special general meeting held on May 31, during which Jera was voted out amid allegations of misconduct. In a letter dated July 9, SRC Director General Eltah Nengomasha said the national body had reviewed the outcome and found the process consistent with Tennis Zimbabwe’s constitutional framework.
“The SRC has noted the decision taken at the Tennis Zimbabwe Special General Meeting … to remove the president, Mr. Walter Jera, from office,” Nengomasha wrote in a letter dated July 9. “Tennis Zimbabwe was aligned with its constitutional provisions.”
Jera’s presidency had been under scrutiny since April, when the association’s Board of Control suspended him over claims of mismanagement, including concerns about financial accountability.
He was locked out of official premises and systems, and instructed to hand over all organizational assets. The suspension letter, signed by Acting Chairman Rev. Tafadzwa Masimba and Acting President Glory Gijima, cited actions deemed damaging to the institution’s integrity.
Jera, who took the reins in June 2023, contested the suspension, calling it unconstitutional and the meeting that led to it procedurally flawed.
He also challenged the eligibility of key figures in the leadership transition. According to Jera, Masvingo Province — represented by Masimba and Gijima — was not compliant with membership requirements and therefore should not have participated in voting.
Throughout the leadership dispute, Jera maintained that his administration was focused on stabilizing Tennis Zimbabwe’s finances, which he said were weighed down by a US$130,000 debt inherited from previous executives. Critics, however, accused him of using the debt to distract from his own alleged shortcomings.
With the SRC’s latest decision affirming the general assembly’s resolution, Jera’s removal is now official. The endorsement clears the way for Tennis Zimbabwe to appoint new leadership and begin the process of rebuilding trust among its stakeholders.
The organization now faces the challenge of restoring governance stability and reviving tennis development efforts after a prolonged period of internal turmoil.
