Kevin Mapasure
9 June 2011
ZIFA has turned down a request by Vice President John Nkomo’s office to withdraw their High Court case against the association’s ex-CEO Henrietta Rushwaya, who has declined to surrender the football body’s assets.
Speaking for the first time about the asset row, Zifa president Cuthbert Dube said that they would forge ahead with the court battle to recover the assets, which include four vehicles and a generator.
“That is a sensitive issue, but what I can tell you is that we will get those assets, whether they were donated to the Warriors’ Trust or Zifa. The issue is they were made available to football and we will go ahead with the court case,” said Dube.
Comment could not be obtained from Rushwaya who travelled to Nigeria for Nwanko Kanu’s testimonial match.
But a letter from the VP’s office addressed to Zifa,which Dube confirmed receipt of, reads in part: “Following our meeting at your offices and our subsequent telephone conversation, I wish to forward the enclosed to you in the hope that the issue of the three vehicles donated to the Warriors Trust Fund for use by Zifa can be resolved between your organisation and the former CEO of Zifa Ms Rushwaya.
“In the meantime, I wish to reiterate my request for the proof of withdrawal of the High Court Application by Mr (Ndumiso) Gumede submitted to be forwarded to me in writing. This will enable me to engage the Hon Vice President (John Nkomo) and convener of the Warriors Trust Fund on the current impasse related to the above-mentioned vehicles. I am convinced that as the custodian of the said vehicles, the office of the VP should be in a position to resolve the niggling issue.”
Documents obtained by IndependentSport show that Rushwaya intended to register the vehicles under Zifa during her time in office, a move that was rejected by the VP’s office.
Rushwaya wrote to the VP’s office requesting to register the vehicles under Zifa.
“By copy of this letter (dated July 29 2008), please be advised that it is the Zimbabwe Football Association’s wish to have the three donated Isuzu KBs registered under Zifa (Pvt) Ltd. May we take this opportunity to extend our most sincere appreciation towards the patron’s efforts in making our association vibrant,” wrote Rushwaya.
An official in Nkomo’s office then responded by turning down the request for fear that the vehicles might be attached by Zifa’s debtors.
“Please be advised that after due consideration we believe that the donated vehicles should be registered under the Hon Vice President’s Warriors’ Fund. This decision has been taken to avoid the forfeiture of these vehicles to any litigants to whom Zifa (Pvt) Ltd might be indebted to now or in the future,”reads a letter from the VP’s office.
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