STAFF WRITER
Zimbabwe is facing disqualification from the African Cup of Nations set for January next year after the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) was disbanded by Government.
A caretaker committee is set to take charge to set the foundation for fresh elections, Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) Board chairman Gerald Mlotshwa said.
Mlotshwa described the decision to suspend the Felton Kamambo led administration as “easy” saying the board had on countless times acted against national interest.
Mlotshwa said the SRC had suspended ZIFA after “extensive consultations” and “following several incidences of gross incompetence on the part of ZIFA.”
“There was never going to be a right time, we needed to bite the bullet,” said Mlotshwa.
The ZIFA suspension could see FIFA ban Zimbabwe from global football over government interference in the running of the country’s football federation.
This could see Zimbabwe being disqualified from next year’s Africa Cup of Nations. Chad was previously disqualified from the African Cup of Nations due to government interference.
“I think Zimbabwe needs time to fix itself, if we are suspended from AFCON next year, so be it, we are prepared for that,” said Mlotshwa.
ZIFA was suspended for among other things, mismanagement and lack of accountability in the use of public funds, sending of national team outside Zimbabwe without Covid-19 clearances and no evidence of any meaningful development at grass-root level.
The SRC said it is also in receipt of a report of alleged sexual harassment of female referees by key technical staff.
ZIFA was also accused of failing to address imbalances relating to the treatment of female national team in comparison to the male national team.
The SRC suspended Zimbabwe Cricket board in June 2019 over allegations of electoral malpractices and financial misappropriation before backtracking a few months later.
“So far as ZIFA is concerned I think what we appreciate unlike cricket, we moved in rapidly but what we didn’t take into account the reality of the politics of sport,” said Mlotshwa.
“In so far as ZIFA is concerned we have done the necessary consultations and spoken to the people that need to be spoken to so we are prepared for whatever might happen. IF FIFA moves in and decides to ban Zimbabwe football we are prepared for that.”
