HARARE – Tensions have flared within the leadership of Tennis Zimbabwe following the immediate suspension of the association’s president, Walter Jera, at a Board of Control (BOC) meeting held on Wednesday. Jera, however, has rejected the move, describing the meeting as unconstitutional and its proceedings as null and void.
In a letter dated April 10, the BOC accused Jera of facing serious charges that prompted the move to suspend him in order to “maintain the integrity of the Association.”
The letter, jointly signed by Acting Chairman Rev Tafadzwa Masimba and Glory Gijima, who signs off as Acting President, advised Jera to return all Tennis Zimbabwe property and barred him from accessing the association’s premises and systems.
“You can appeal your case should you wish to before the BOC, which will then convene a Special General Meeting to deal with the matter,” the letter reads.
Jera, who assumed office in June 2023, has come under fire from members of the Executive Committee (EXCO) and the Board of Control (BOC), with a faction of the leadership accusing him of unilateralism, financial irregularities, and bypassing internal governance procedures.
In response, Jera pointed to an inherited US$130,000 debt from the previous EXCO as the “elephant in the room” — a burden he claims has derailed the association’s operations and left parents unfairly footing the bill for junior team participation.
Jera hit back in a written response to the suspension letter, labelling the suspension as a “nullity” and “unconstitutional.”
“The meeting cited and its deliberations are void… as supported by legal opinions from the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) and the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC),” Jera wrote. He argued that the meeting had been flagged in advance as irregular and said he could not comply with the resolution.
Jera also questioned the legitimacy of those leading the charge against him, stating that Masvingo Province – which he claims Masimba and Gijima represent – is not affiliated to Tennis Zimbabwe due to non-payment of annual dues, and thus has no legal standing under the association’s constitution.
He further challenged Gijima’s role, saying she is currently under investigation over a 2022 financial scandal that left the association in debt, under a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) case cited as ER 10/25.
Jera also took issue with the BOC’s claim that the suspension was based on the findings of an investigation committee, alleging that the committee itself admitted it had not reached any conclusions due to his non-participation.
“In that respect, we cannot offer any recommendations to this case as Mr Jera did not respond,” he quoted from the committee’s report, calling this a direct contradiction of the suspension letter’s justification.
He refused to appeal to the BOC, calling it a biased body that cannot adjudicate on a matter it had already acted upon. “An appeal can only be to the General Assembly, which is higher than the BOC,” he wrote.
Despite the unfolding power struggle, Jera has vowed to forge ahead with a scheduled engagement with parents and stakeholders on Saturday April 12 at Harare Sports Club. In an address prepared for the meeting, he talks up his vision of restoring financial integrity within the association.
He also outlines past financial mismanagement, particularly a US$130,000 debt he attributes to the previous executive. Jera frames the meeting as a critical opportunity to re-align the association with government policy and unlock state support for tennis development—while also demanding accountability for what he calls “the elephant in the room.”
Critics, however, accuse him of clutching at straws in a desperate attempt to retain power amid mounting pressure and internal revolt.
