Normalisation Committee to stay
ZIFA’S Normalisation Committee might be staying put for some time after revelations FIFA have tentatively agreed to extend its chairperson Lincoln Mutasa’s mandate beyond June 30.
FIFA normalisation committees across the world, including in countries such as Ghana, Namibia, Pakistan, Trinidad and Egypt, have previously had their terms extended.
‘Sources, however, revealed that the Normalisation Committee have sounded out ex-Warriors stars Kalisto Pasuwa, Bruce Grobbelaar and Kaitano Tembo on their availability for the senior team post.’
Given the slow pace at which the ZIFA team are working, the world body are expected to do the same.
FIFA officials were in the country last month, during which they held a strategic workshop with the Normalisation Committee and clarified some grey areas while noting the need for the tenure to be extended.
Mutasa and his committee, which includes his deputy Cynthia Malaba, lawyer Nyasha Sanyamandwe, ex-Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza and former Highlanders player Sikhumbuzo Ndebele, had initially been handed a 12-month term when they were appointed on July 11 last year.
And, just like other normalisation committees, a year to work on and complete reforms has proved to be a herculean task.
It is believed that Mutasa and his crew spent the first half of their tenure dealing with internal ZIFA matters. The extension period of the committee will, however, be determined by the bureau of the FIFA Council after all submissions have been made.
Mutasa, an ex-Dynamos defender and chairperson, faced the local media on Friday for the first time since his appointment.
It coincided with the shift of the administration from the ZIFA offices, located at 53 Livingstone Avenue, which were once famously described by the association’s ex-president, Cuthbert Dube, as the “House of Horror’’.
As if to banish the ghost of the problems that have haunted ZIFA for decades, Mutasa, flanked by Malaba and new chief executive Yvone Mapika Manwa, hosted the army of print and electronic media personnel at the association’s new, albeit rented, offices in the more serene surroundings of Milton Park in Harare.
Despite acknowledging that his committee has been slow in discharging its mandate, Mutasa insisted that elections for a substantive ZIFA board are inevitable.
He gave his reasons on why it has taken them time to get off the mark.
“As the NC (Normalisation Committee), we believe this (reform process) is a national project and no one has a monopoly of information. We understand the important role that the media play in spreading the game of football to every ear and eye nationwide and abroad,’’ Mutasa said.
“The first six months focussed on internal analysis and, of course, it took longer than we expected. The rest of our tenure will be on building football from grassroots to the formulation of the congress. It is important that you get the picture of what we have done since our appointment in July 2023, where we are now and what we intend to accomplish before paving way for the election of a board.
“Despite obvious challenges that we have faced, we have managed to accomplish notable things to set the tone for the critical period ahead.’’
ZIFA audit
One of the notable tasks that the Normalisation Committee are yet to complete is auditing ZIFA books.
But Mutasa indicated that, just like the audit firm dispatched by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) in 2022, they have struggled to get documents from the previous board led by Felton Kamambo. It is also understood that former ZIFA finance manager Marylyn Chifamba, who worked hand-in-glove with ex-board member (finance) Philemon Machana, disappeared without handing over the books.
This has forced the Normalisation Committee to try other means to get information.
Malaba also weighed in, saying the ongoing audit of ZIFA had looked at the financial records from 2021-2023, “after which we will consider if there is need for a forensic (audit)’’.
Harare firm PNA, earlier contracted by the Kamambo leadership to audit the ZIFA books, are reportedly doing the same under Mutasa.
National team coaches
Mutasa also revealed that his committee will settle for a local coach for the Warriors as they were working on a limited budget, which would not allow them to even consider “expensive foreign coaches whom we would also need to pay relocations fees, secure accommodation for and apply for a work permit”.