…Damning Letter Reveals Deep-seated Problems in Zimbabwe Football
THE newly installed Normalization Committee of the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has immediately been plunged into a crisis, as a slew of serious allegations, including sexual abuse, corruption, and tribalism, have been directed against two high-ranking referees in the Southern Region.
In a letter dated June 17 and addressed to the mother body, which was signed “yours in pain: Referees in Bulawayo Province. Southern Region”, the region’s referees committee members, namely Godfrey Moyo and Milton Moyo, were accused of sexual harassment, tribalism, corruption and extortion while Sabelo Maphosa was mentioned as well.
The damning letter was also copied to the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), ZIFA Referees Committee, Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Office of the President and Cabinet, Zifa Southern Region, Zifa Nothern Region, Zifa Eastern Region, Zifa Central Region, Zifa Bulawayo Province as well as Zifa’s sponsors and affiliates.
“As female referees from Southern Region, Bulawayo Province, we are appealing to the Zimbabweans to help us fight the injustice, sexual harassment, incompetence, tribalism, bribery, and favouritism from particularly the Bulawayo Province.
“It’s sad how we have called for justice, equality, and fairness to female and male referees. We have tried to engage our superiors at the Provincial and Regional level to assist us, but we have been told to have patience,” reads part of the letter.
The authors of the letter continued: “We are writing this article on the condition of anonymity for the sake of our safety, image, and future in this particular profession, hoping that this article will expose, shame, the perpetrators at the same time hoping that this article will make waves, reach out to higher authorities so we can get justice.”
The authors also allege that female referees and other male referees in the Southern Region and Bulawayo Province face threats, sexual harassment, extortion, tribalism, and bribery demands for junior referees to be promoted. In contrast, females are expected to engage in sexual relations with the Instructors and commissioners.
It is also alleged that young male referees are being asked to pay bribes, sometimes as much as US$60 per month, to be promoted to Class 1 or to officiate in higher leagues like the Premier Soccer League and Division One.
“For us junior referees in Bulawayo Province, it’s hard to resist these demands because you will not be given games to officiate, and what’s more painful is we have no protection at all.
“At the end (sic), referees will give in to these demands because of desperation, intimidation, fear, and segregation. It’s sad we as referees in Bulawayo have turned away from the Love and Passion of football to be sex slaves, money machines, all tribal wars in Zimbabwe are being fought at our expense,” reads the letter.
“What’s painful is the perpetrators are known, but nothing has been done to them. We are not sure of whether Sabelo Maphosa knows what is happening or perhaps she is just covering for his colleagues and her image as she is the ZIFA Secretary General Nationally.”
When contacted for a comment, the Chairman of the normalisation committee, Lincoln Mutasa, said: “Good evening. We have not received this letter formally. Our overall mandate includes setting up structures to stop such incidents, and we are giving it the urgency it requires.”
ZIFA referees committee supremo Ruzive Ruzive said since said the letter is addressed to ZIFA, his committee would only take action once mandated by the mother body.
“Given that we were only copied the letter, which is addressed to ZIFA, our hands are tied until ZIFA tells us to look into the matter,” said Ruzive.
The referees’ boss added that he had only seen the letter through social media but quickly noted that an investigation was the obvious route because of the serious nature of the accusations.
