Zvikomborero Parafini
THE former ZIFA leaders — Felton Kamambo, Philemon Machana, Stanley Chapeta, Joseph Mamutse and Brighton Malandule — who were facing fraud allegations, have been acquitted.
They were accused of writing letters using the ZIFA and masquerading as the leaders of the association when they were on suspension. The State was alleging that the five masqueraded as ZIFA board members and wrote letters suspending other ZIFA officials even though they were under suspension by the Sports and Recreation Commission.
The State failed to lead incriminating evidence against the suspects after key witnesses Sébastien Garikai and Xolisani Gwesela made concessions which exonerated the suspects.
The five, represented by Admire Rubaya, had always maintained their innocence and denied any criminal liability.
Garikai told the court when they suspended Kamambo and his ZIFA board members, FIFA rubbished their actions and went on to ban Zimbabwe from all international football activities.
He conceded that the SRC did not ascertain whether the five actually wrote, signed and sent the letters to various ZIFA officials but that they based their report on complaints raised by Gwesela and others.
Gwesela denied that he reported the case to the police but only cooperated with the SRC as they were his “employers and paying his salaries”.
He said he had nothing against the five and had worked well with them.
“I only received an email from [email protected] but I have no evidence that it was him who sent it. Anything is possible in cyberspace,” he said.