Association faces $2 600 fraud allegations
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) has been accused of defrauding teachers from Mashonaland West Province, who officiate and coach athletics after it failed to issue them with certificates despite them paying a combined $2 600 for an International Coaching Level one certificate.
The affected teachers said NAAZ has not issued them their certificates, 10 months after they completed the course.
At least 20 coaches and 33 officials were trained in Mashonaland West Province from February 16 to 18 this year, and were expected to receive their certificates in April.
The trainees were drawn from various schools in the province and have called for an audit to establish how the money was used.
“We were a group of teachers from different schools in the province and each school had to pay an $80 fee if it was cash and $84 if you were using EcoCash, to send a representative for the International Athletics Coaching Level one Certificate from 16 to 18 February this year,” said one of the teachers.
“We were told that we would receive certificates after two months. It has been 10 months without NAAZ issuing us our certificates. They have been silent since then. We recommend that Government auditors should get to the bottom of the matter.
“NAAZ officials should account for the money that were paid by our schools. Under normal circumstances, Level one trainees get their certificates after two months.”
One of the trainers, Mr Shandreck Chatunga, confirmed that the trainees were yet to get the certificates, but gave assurances that they would get them from the Mashonaland West Athletics Board.
“It is true that the trainees have not yet received their certificates despite completing their training,” he said.
“Let me assure them that the certificates are ready and are with our chairperson.”
Mashonaland West Athletics Board chairperson Mrs Siphathisiwe Machaya said she had the certificates, but failed to issue them as she had other pressing commitments.
“The certificates have no time frame, when they are done they will be issued out,” she said.
NAAZ president Mr Tendai Tagara said the certificates were wrongly categorised and it took time for them to be signed, but assured the trainees that they would get their certificates by next week.
“Unfortunately, the certificates were categorised Level two, which can only be issued after six months of practical assessment working with athletes and reports are made to the lecturer,” he said.
“The lecturer then gives the green light for them to be certified. What happened in Mashonaland West is very unfortunate, but the issue has since been resolved. We are working hard to ensure that everyone receives their certificates.”