Govt has no jurisdiction over Zifa - Chinamasa

Leader of Government Business in Parliament Patrick Chinamasa has said the State has no role in the running of the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) amid heightened calls for organisation's chairperson Cuthbert Dube to step down.

In recent weeks, the State media has led a campaign calling for Dube to step down for failing to change the fortunes of the country's below par football standards.

Deputy Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Thabeth Malinga joined the fray calling for the immediate disbanding of Zifa to which the organisation's chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaize reportedly wrote a damning letter to world soccer governing body FIFA.

In the letter, Mashingaidze reportedly described Malinga as misguided and ignorant on matters relating to the sport calling for FIFA to intervene on the matter and block moves to oust Dube.

The matter was up for discussion in Parliament yesterday when MDC secretary general Priscilla Misihairabwi Mushonga asked Chinamasa to respond to the alleged attacks on Malinga.

"What is Government policy around those officials who make those kinds of statements, particularly if they are referring to women?" she asked.

Chinamasa responded saying, "My understanding Cde Speaker, you will need to excuse me.

As far as I am aware, FIFA policy is that we should not interfere with ZIFA affairs.

"I think that is their policy. So you are raising what has been said by a ZIFA official over whom we have no jurisdiction," said Chinamasa.

"Yes we have no jurisdiction over a ZIFA official. If this official was from the Ministry of Sport, then I would have responded to you."