The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
ALL appears set for the release of ZIFA’s forensic audit report, which is widely expected to open the lid on the rot that has characterised the administration of local football.
It emerged from the first tripartite meeting of the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), ZIFA and the ZIFA Restructuring Committee that the report will be ready by month-end.
The forensic audit is being conducted by BDO Chartered Accountants.
It is understood ZIFA members, the secretariat and ex-members of the ZIFA executive committee (the board) were called in to give “clarity and insight into certain transactions” at ZIFA. There are allegations Felton Kamambo’s board may have misappropriated funds before their November 16, 2021, suspension by the SRC.
The board was also censured for failing to deal with allegations of rampant sexual abuse of female referees.
This resulted in former ZIFA Referees’ Committee secretary-general Obert Zhoya being slapped with a five-year ban by FIFA.
He was also fined US$20 000.
The inaugural tripartite meeting of SRC, ZIFA and the ZIFA Restructuring Committee was convened at the National Sports Stadium on Thursday.
SRC chairperson Gerald Mlotshwa led the team from the regulatory body, Gift Banda represented ZIFA, while veteran administrator Tommy Sithole fronted the restructuring committee.
Yesterday, the SRC revealed that the ZIFA Congress would convene an extraordinary meeting to discuss recommendations of the restructuring committee. The Congress — which revoked the mandate of Kamambo, board member (finance) Philemon Machana and Bryton Malandule (development) on April 23 – is also expected to table the forensic audit report.
“The purpose of the meeting was, in the first instance, to receive an update from ZIFA regarding the implementation of certain of the conditions to which the lifting of the suspension of the ZIFA executive committee on June 8, 2022, was subject to,” the SRC said in a statement.
“Secondly, the meeting provided an opportunity for BDO Chartered Accountants to provide a progress report on the forensic audit, which they are presently carrying out on the financial affairs of ZIFA.
“Lastly, the restructuring committee gave an update on the progress it has made in discharging the tasks forming a part of its terms of reference.”
A fortnight ago, the local sports regulatory body was vindicated when FIFA’s Independent Ethics Committee found Zhoya guilty of abusing female referees.
SRC led the charge in trying to unearth the scandal involving abuse of female referees, and accused the ZIFA leadership of sweeping the matter under the carpet. This culminated in the ZIFA board’s suspension in November last year.
“The Restructuring Committee expects to complete its findings and final recommendations to the SRC within a period that will allow ZIFA members in a general meeting to consider the same for adoption,” said the local sports regulator.
“A ZIFA EGM to adopt the findings of the forensic audit is expected to be held in October. “Thereafter, the issues adopted during the EGM will form the basis of the implementation matrix (with times and deadlines for the discharge of agreed reform goals). This matrix will be made available to FIFA and CAF.”
The implementation matrix as well as details of the forensic report, including findings and recommendations of the restructuring committee, will be made available to the public.
SRC believes ZIFA need to address the constitutional crisis that has led to recurrent problems at the association.
“A key component to the implementation matrix is the adoption of a new constitution by the members of ZIFA in December 2022, after which and subject to the provisions of the new constitution, the holding of new elections from grassroots structures to executive committee level in early 2023.”
SRC reiterated that it was not the commission’s priority to lobby for the lifting of ZIFA’s suspension by FIFA. Its focus, it said, was on implementing far-reaching fundamental reforms in the administration of local football. Just like in Zimbabwe, Football Kenya Federation, who were suspended on the same date with ZIFA on February 24, 2022, remain on the sidelines.
