THE Felton Kamambo led suspended ZIFA board has turned down an invitation by the National Prosecuting Authority to attend the illegal Extra-Ordinary General Meeting powered by a desperate Sports and Recreation Commission hired goons bent on usurping power through unorthodox means.
NPA uncharacteristically reached out to Kamambo and his executive on the eve of the EGM that is not recognised by the global football governing body scheduled for this morning.
The Acting Prospector General Michael Reza wrote, “The National Prosecuting Authority has no problems with the suspended ZIFA officials attending the EGM. The National Prosecuting Authority further does not consider their attendance as a breach of their bail conditions,” he said.
FIFA has already ruled out the scheduled EMG as a non-event.
“As discussed in the past weeks, it is important that in the context of the aforementioned EGM, the ZIFA members and delegates understand fully the decision of FIFA Council taken on 24 February 2022 (as attached hereto). Especially, they shall be reminded of the cumulative conditions imposed by FIFA Council for the ZIFA suspension to be lifted, including “confirmation to FIFA that ZIFA and its management led by President Kamambo and GS Mamutse is back under their full and unconditional control,” communicated FIFA this week.
However, ZIFA, through their handlers Rubaya and Chatambudza, refused to be used to lipstick an ugly frog by giving credence to an illegitimate exercise.
“As you may be obviously aware, the accused persons are on bail, and they were ordered not to interfere with State Witnesses and not to act as ZIFA Executive Members in circumstances where they remain suspended by the SRC.
Our clients are extremely baffled and have been taken aback by requests to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in circumstances where their status as the Executive Members of ZIFA is in question, consequent to the purported suspension by the SRC and the pending criminal prosecution.
“In as much as our clients are prepared to engage with all the critical stakeholders for purposes of finding a lasting solution to the problems bedevilling football in this country, they are very sceptical to accede your request to attend the EGM merely on the basis of a letter of invitation.”
The ZIFA lawyers said their stifled by the SRC yoke on their necks and are not free to express themselves freely in any conditional engagements that may ensue now or in future.
“Therefore, if there is any genuine need for them to attend the EGM, we take the stern view you should obtain a Court Order which alters the stringent bail conditions imposed by the Court. Put differently, we advise that our clients will not attend the EGM unless and until an order of court is obtained to alter their bail conditions to such an extent that allows them to so attend meetings of that nature,” wrote ZIFA lawyers.
“We hasten to point out that, for the record, the State is merely another litigant in the present proceedings. With all due respect, the State nor its representative – the National Prosecuting Authority cannot purport to alter bail conditions imposed by the Harare Regional Magistrates Court – such duties are strictly within the purview of a Court of Law. For the record, not even you, Mr. Reza, can alter same in your esteemed capacity as the Acting Deputy Prosecutor General – only the Court can do such, in our respectful opinion.
“In any event, our clients are of the firm view that their suspension by the SRC is of no force and effect but as law-abiding citizens, they cannot be lured into violating their bail conditions lest they lose their hard-won liberty.
“Furthermore, our clients do not even subscribe to the need for an EGM to the extent that they will not legalise an illegitimate process which has been instigated for purposes of some other ulterior motives which do not favour the upliftment of the FIFA Ban. Our clients are very suspicious of the ill-conceived invitation from the ZIFA Competitions and Communications Manager which comes soon after FIFA has demanded the reinstatement of our clients as the only main condition which will result in the upliftment of the FIFA Ban. Such reinstatement has not yet been effected and our clients remain suspended, as far as we are aware.
“In the circumstances, our clients assert that they are still interested to engage all the critical stakeholders concerning the running of football in Zimbabwe, however, they can only do so in line with their bail conditions. Our clients are not effectively free men, their liberty has been curtailed through the remand procedure as well as the stringent bail conditions imposed by the Court. Therefore, our clients will err on the side of caution and not attend the EGM. In fact, if you are sincere in your request, please obtain the necessary Court Order altering the bail conditions to allow our clients to engage with others for purposes of finding a lasting solution to the FIFA Ban.”
