Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze’s five-year tenure is set to come to an end in early April and it remains unclear whether the new board will extend his contract or not. The foxy former history teacher has been at the helm of Zifa’s secretariat since 2011 after being brought on board by the association’s former president Cuthbert Dube’s executive committee.
Mashingaidze took over from the firebrand former iron lady of Zimbabwe football Henrietta Rushwaya, who was booted out by Dube for her alleged involvement in the Asiagate scandal, among other issues.
Although both Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa and his deputy Omega Sibanda declined to comment on the issue, insiders revealed that Mashingaidze’s contract expires on April 1.
“He has a lucrative contract, which comes to an end in April and we don’t know whether the leadership of Chiyangwa will renew his contract or not,” said the source.
Sibanda is in charge of Zifa’s administration and is also responsible for recruitment and Mashingaidze’s fate now lies firmly in the hands of the Bulawayo businessman.
Sibanda and Mashingaidze had a public fallout in 2014 after the Zifa CEO told his vice-president to board a “chicken bus” to attend Zifa meetings in Harare.
This was after Sibanda had complained that Mashingaidze was refusing to book flights and accommodation for him when travelling for Zifa business from Bulawayo to Harare.
Their relationship further deteriorated at the height of a Zifa councillors’ revolt against Dube’s leadership last year resulting in some football industry actors calling for Mashingaidze to be fired, accusing him of causing divisions in the game.
However, in terms of the Zifa constitution, the executive committee, at the recommendation of the president, is responsible for the appointment of the CEO.