Zimbabwe’s government-run sports commission said it has asked national police to launch an investigation into alleged misappropriation of public funds at the country’s soccer federation.
The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), which regulates sports in Zimbabwe, wants the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to be compelled to release information regarding their financial expenditures between December last year to now.
In a letter seen by Ducor Sports, SRC director-general Prince Mupazviriho asked Zimbabwe Police to swiftly investigate the football body as it believes corruption and other irregularities are behind the current wrangles being witnessed at ZIFA.
“As indicated in our letter to yourselves, dated 10 July 2019, we now wish to formally request the urgent assistance of the Zimbabwe Republic Police to carry out investigations at ZIFA, and any related third parties, in respect of conduct of a criminal nature involving public funds availed to ZIFA by the SRC and Government,” Mupazviriho wrote.
“In particular, we wish that the investigations focus on the following matters of grave concern to the SRC as set out in the letter of July 3.”
“Key to this issue is the use of public funds received by ZIFA and, or, any of its officials as well as the involvement of a company called Conduit Holdings in appearing to obstruct the course of justice by frustrating the Order of the High Court of Zimbabwe.”
“The SRC stands by to assist should you require further information.”
In his first letter addressed to ZIFA chief executive, Joseph Mamutse, Mupazviriho said they were “acutely aware of the controversies surrounding the Warriors’ AFCON campaign which ended in embarrassing fashion on June 30 following a 4-0 humiliation by DRC.”
The SRC body recently asked football world governing body FIFA to put ZIFA under a normalization committee until new elections are held.
The sports body didn’t give a reason for the request but it followed a series of dramatic moves by ZIFA in the last week. ZIFA disbanded the entire national team and banned for life its former president, who is currently the head of southern African soccer, for alleged misconduct.
ZIFA said former president Phillip Chiyangwa was banned for submitting an ultimately failed bid for Zimbabwe to host this year’s southern African championship without approval from the government or ZIFA board.
ZIFA also accused Chiyangwa of playing a role in unsettling the national team, which threatened to go on strike ahead of the opening game of the African Cup of Nations in Egypt in June.
Chiyangwa lost an election to lead ZIFA last year but remains president of the Council of Southern African Football Associations.
