The international football federation, FIFA legal division said the suspension of Zifa executive committee by the supreme sports governing body in Zimbabwe was, according to the constitution, the right decision, The Page can exclusively reveal.
“It must be made clear from the onset that FIFA doesn’t condone bad governance by member associations. The FAs must not use Fifa to shield themselves from governance and other statutory obligations in their territory.
“We are following events in Zimbabwe and as far as Fifa is concerned the matter has not reached a point where we are required to intervene, if at all. The FA is aware that they have to respect the laws of the land in which they are domiciled and if they breach any laws, they know they are liable.
“As Fifa, we are there to protect the game, stakeholders and their interests that is why we periodically offer support, financial and otherwise. That is no excuse for FAs not behave with acceptable decorum. We often capacitate our members, so that they can operate at a level that fosters development.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, FIFA is not there to subvert governments because they are key stakeholders. We only intervene, when so invited and we believe the SRC are following the laws as enacted and at the moment, we can not say much.
“Suffice to say, we respect the decision of the SRC, in so far as the laws of the land are concerned and we have no authority to comment on it beyond what we will be furnished with,” a member of the legal division told The Page.
He refused to comment on the Bryton Malandule and Albert Zhoya sexual harassment case, saying that the matter is being handled by the Ethics Committee and is not aware how far the case has gone.
Malandule, despite that heavy metal weighing on his head, on Tuesday stocked the fires, when he ordered all referees to withdraw services, further confusing the situation in the aftermath of the suspension.
As if that was not enough, the already suspended Malandule caused Fifa to stop the referees course due to start next week, saying the government is interfering with football. Sad that FIFA have canceled the course on the word of the suspended Malandule as if this was a personal project.
Malandule must be punished for this wanton behaviour. First the sexual harassment issue was ignored by ZIFA until now. And he has continued to instill fear and division in referees so much they can not even say a word for fear of victimization.
He has become such a terrier so much that even after he is suspended and striped of any power, he continues to cause the officials some goosebumps. Maybe the FIFA ban will come soon for Malandule and Zhoya and those girls frozen out together with Allan Bhasvi for daring expose their shenanigans, can have their recompense.
But for now the SRC must be given as much support as they require to ensure that first, the minister of sport gives us a caretaker committee soon to restore the operations. Because the Act was used to suspend the useless Zifa exco, the same Act must also restore operationalisation by way of minister appointing the interim exco.
As things stand, the immediate task is to have the team running the affairs at ZIFA and with Fifa aware and following events in Zimbabwe, it is imperative to ensure football is played and Chibuku Trophy is completed as scheduled.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the suspended officials who removed documents and papers from office at night used the ZIFA letterhead to write to FIFA and CAF asking them to ban Zimbabwe because they allege the republican President ED wants to control football.
Machana, the architect of the mail, impressed upon FIFA to act swiftly “before it is too late because this government is very vindictive and might imprison us if you delay a minute longer to act…”.
“They have created some trumped up charges against us to find an excuse to interfere in football. Officials are being accused of crimes never committed and have been to court several times as a way of intimidating us.
“Please act fast to rescue the game from these politicians….” the letter to Fatima Samoura read.
What is sad is that the letter was written on official letterhead and happened after the suspension. We watch the space to see if FIFA will be as naive as Machana and co.
Samoura was in Kenya yesterday for a meeting and told the media that the decision of the Kenyan government to remove the KFK executive was right and stands. Asnate Sana….
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