We did not suspend Dube: Zifa councillors

24 May, 2015 - 05:05 0 Views

The Sunday News

Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
CONTRARY to media reports, the Zimbabwe Football Association councillors, who met in Harare in an extraordinary general meeting, say they did not suspend the association’s president Cuthbert Dube but had revoked his mandate rendering him powerless.

They said they would follow that route (suspension) when Zifa hold their extraordinary general meeting on or before 16 June. There have been questions raised over the constitutional validity of the actions of the councillors during their annulled EGM that was held in Harare last Saturday; with some saying the correct procedure as laid down by constitution was not followed.

Thirty Zifa councillors met last Saturday and stripped Dube of his powers but media reports indicated the Zifa president and two other board members, Fungai Chihuri and Tavengwa Hara had been given the boot.

However, some officials in local football argue that article 36 of the Zifa constitution is the relevant statute that should be followed in dismissing a person and the procedure detailed in that section was the right route to follow. The article states that, “The Congress Assembly may dismiss a person or body. The motion for dismissal must be justified and be sent to members of Zifa along with the agenda and the person should be given an opportunity to speak in his own defence”.

In the letter sent by Zifa to councillors requesting for an extra-ordinary meeting there were two items on the agenda; state of football and way forward. Article 28, section 5 of the constitution says the agenda of an EGM may not be altered.

Northern Region chairman Sweeny Mushonga, who chaired the meeting on Saturday, said they had only revoked Dube’s powers, in a process that would have seen the Zifa boss being subsequently ejected from the helm of local football. Mushonga, was however, adamant that they had followed the constitution to the letter, citing article 22 section M which states that, “Congress has the following authority . . . revoking the mandate of one or a number of members of a body of Zifa”.

While other football pundits have been pointing out that article 36 should have been followed in the removal of a board member, Mushonga said the provisions they used were also part of the constitution and legal.

There seems to be confusion in the football world with the two opposing interpretations of the constitution.

“We know there are some who are saying the matter for dismissing Dube as required by article 36 is not on the agenda then we cannot proceed to relieve him of his powers when we next meet but we are confident we can use article 22 and still succeed with our efforts,” said Mushonga.

He acknowledged the existence of article 36 but said it was one of the several options offered by the constitution in disposing of a member or person.

“We decided to follow a certain route as we sought to remove Dube from office and we have our own reasons for following that route which doesn’t violate the constitution. Yes, article 36 is valid as well and requires that we submit a notice to remove a person but we did not feel the need to use it instead we felt article 22, section M would do justice to our cause,” he said.

Mushonga insisted they wanted Dube out and nothing would stop them from initiating the process when they meet this coming month.

Zifa councillors sought to have an AGM but the secretariat did not make efforts to organise the meeting hence they opted to hold last week’s meeting but Fifa annulled the meeting stating the 90 day period only lapses on 16 June and ordered Zifa to organise the meeting on or before the day. Mushonga said local soccer needed to take a new trajectory and it could only do so with a new leader.

He said the growing debt, the Warriors free fall in rankings and unaccountability in finances had been worrisome factors that Dube did not seem to have answers for. “As councillors the responsibility to turn around things begins with us. We have to stand up and be counted otherwise history will condemn us as part of those who failed to act to save the game. Everything in local football seems to be crumbling and if Dube cannot change the fortunes of the sport then let us give someone else the reins. We had a buy-in, into his mission and manifesto but it is not bearing any fruit,” he said.

Zifa chief executive officer, Jonathan Mashingaidze said they were still working out the appropriate date to hold the AGM.

 

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