ZIFA MUST ADOPT NEW CONSTITUTION
THE highly awaited ZIFA Restructuring Committee report was released by the Sports and Recreation Commission yesterday.
The report intensively covered issues such as adopting a new progressive constitution for ZIFA, management and financial accountability at all levels, legal prescriptions and standards for sports administration; self-sustaining national team programme autonomous from ZIFA, and attracting private sector interest in football by reforming ZIFA.
SRC chairman Gerald Mlotshwa said he predicts a positive ending in the restructuring process of ZIFA.
He said he expects ZIFA to embrace changes by March 31, and everything is now in their hands.
“All of these reforms must be implemented by a new executive which is appointed by a new constitution.
“If you had asked me a timeframe, we should have a new constitution by March 31 and then new ZIFA elections would be held at all levels.
Then after that, we can approach
FIFA and shape a roadmap.
“Will not tolerate a situation where there will be certain postponements as there is an element of flexibility. I think there is good rapport and there is genuine sincerity and the desire on their (ZIFA) part to implement these reforms.
“In fact, the feedback we got was very encouraging and these reports have been well received and they are being studied. There is a level of literacy,” Mlotshwa said.
He, however, warned that the SRC is capable of dissolving ZIFA as a sports association that represents the country should it fail to implement changes.
“The SRC in terms of the Act has got remedial power, particularly Section 30. If things get to a point where there is an absolute refusal by ZIFA Congress to implement reforms that we all agree should be implemented, the SRC will be in a position that ZIFA seizes to operate as a national sports association,” he said.
“In the event that we reach that conclusion, which we are very far from, we do have the power in terms of the Act to dissolve ZIFA. We will not recognise them as an association that is responsible for our football.”
Mlotshwa emphasised the importance of restructuring spearheaded by the adoption of a new constitution.
“It is readily discernible from the committee’s recommendations that the root cause of ZIFA’s problems is a deeply flawed and outdated constitution whose details are unknown to the greater number of its members.
“The ZIFA constitution, because of its flawed nature, allows for the eventual election of persons equally flawed in character and integrity, and lacking in basic management skills. These persons are incapable of separating the affairs of ZIFA from their personal needs and ambitions, financial and otherwise.
“It is for this reason that any previous attempts at reform within ZIFA became highly charged and personalised affairs, with incumbent office holders thinking of themselves attacked as individuals rather than the organisation itself or the office held within ZIFA.
“ZIFA was being run as a fiefdom. This lack of constitutionalism within ZIFA is precisely why football in the country can be held to ransom by a handful of misguided, selfish and criminal individuals.
“Without a new constitution in place, the fortunes of ZIFA and football in Zimbabwe will forever be doomed. No serious reform can ever take place without a constitution that allows the election and appointment of officials who have the interests of football at heart.
“These individuals do exist and do want to participate, whether as officials or sponsors of the game. However, they do not want their reputations, integrity, or corporate brands soiled by involving themselves in opaque electoral or procurement processes that are presently best suited for, and taken advantage of, by persons driven by primitive impulses,” Mlotshwa said.