ZIFA, FAW in impasse over buses
ZIFA have been urged to approach vehicle manufacturing company FAW and other local sports goods suppliers to recover buses and football equipment worth thousands of dollars that were purchased using grants from FIFA.
The association purchased two buses over a year ago after paying US$295 000 to local manufacturer and vehicle distributor, FAW, using vehicle grants from FIFA.
But the buses are gathering dust, 15 months later and with no solution in sight, following an impasse that resulted from an administrative bungle in the procurement process.
ZIFA wanted two standard model buses, fitted with air-conditioners as per FIFA requirements.
According to findings by BDO Zimbabwe Chartered Accountants, who had been tasked by the Sports and Recreation to conduct a forensic audit of the association’s books between December 2018 and November 2021, the supplier is now offering the downgraded model buses that do not meet the FIFA standards.
FAW claimed that by the time ZIFA deposited the money in September last year, the original quotations which they got from the supplier had already expired.
The standard model buses were originally quoted at US$147 893 and the cheaper version was US$126 930 when they got the first quotation in February 2021.
But a new quotation in July showed that the prices had jumped and the cheaper version cost US$171 664 while the standard version was priced even higher.
But ZIFA went on to pay for the standard model using the original quote they had received six months earlier. An impasse ensued as FAW insisted on offering ZIFA the downgraded model, which the association has refused to accept.
“It should be noted that the major difference between the downgraded model and the standard model is that the latter has air-conditioners, which is a requirement by FIFA.
“On the 7th of September 2021, ZIFA received US$296 586 from FIFA for the purchase of the 2 buses. Payments totalling US$295 000 were made to FAW on the 15th and 21st of September 2021.
“According to ZIFA, this payment for two standard model buses based on 16th of February 2021 quotation. By the time payment was made the validity of the 16th of February 2021 quotation had already lapsed.
“When we visited FAW on the 9th of September 2022, we established that FAW was prepared to deliver two downgraded model buses for the US$295 000 already paid, despite the same model being quoted at US$171 664 each as per the 22 July 2021 quote.
“The ZIFA Human Resources Manager told us that the buses we saw at FAW Zimbabwe did not have air-conditioners, hence could not be accepted.
“It can be noted that the problem arose because of the delay in the ZIFA board deciding to accept the FAW quotation when it had almost lapsed.
“More time was then lost applying and eventually receiving funding from FIFA.
ZIFA needs to engage FAW to find a way of resolving the impasse,” reads part of the report.
This comes as the football community is battling to come to grips with the damning forensic audit report which showed that the association could have been prejudiced of more US$617 915.95 and $73 million in local currency. The audit firm unearthed massive financial irregularities at 53 Livingstone Avenue.
The auditing firm observed that in many instances the ZIFA board flouted corporate governance tenets and that the management of funds at the association was done in a haphazard manner.
ZIFA were also urged to engage sports apparel supplier Rollertag for outstanding deliveries of goods already paid for.
“In 2021, two invoices amounting to US$48 135.64 and US$52 668.00 paid on 23 April 2021 and 10 June 2021 respectively had their deliveries still outstanding up to the time of our investigation.
“Mr Marshall Jonga confirmed that the goods were yet to be delivered. He also said that the goods were in his warehouse, and this had been communicated to Mr Gift Banda who told him that the ZIFA Secretariat will advise when to deliver. On 26 October 2022 Mr Banda corroborated what Mr Jonga had said through a tele-conversation,” reckoned the audit report.