Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane has said the country’s football leadership led by Philip Chiyangwa has since complied with the Government directive to shelve plans to dissolve the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) after it was proved the move was illegal and in violation of their own constitution.

Hlongwane addressed a press conference where he announced that ZIFA is the bona fide football association in the country.

He was accompanied at the press conference by the Sports and Recreation Commission acting director general Joseph Muchechetere who also stated that they do not recognise the newly formed National Football Association (NAFAZ) which was supposed to succeed ZIFA.

Hlongwane said the football leadership should follow proper procedure as provided for by its constitution if they want to dissolve the association.

Besides the legal and moral issues involved, Hlongwane said the move by the ZIFA leadership would set a bad precedence in the sport sector and could have had negative repercussions on corporate trust.

On the association’s motion for liquidation which went before the courts Wednesday morning, the Minister said it was a matter for the courts since his Ministry had no jurisdiction over the procedure.  

“For avoidance of any doubt, Government’s considered view is as follows…. There is only one registered football association in Zimbabwe and that football association is the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).

“National football teams will continue to participate in regional, continental and international assignments under the auspices of ZIFA. Consequently, the National Football Association of Zimbabwe (NAFAZ) is currently not a bona fide football association in Zimbabwe.”

“That’s the reason I’m here today. I am having this press conference today because we are in agreement with the football leadership that ZIFA is still in existence. That we have agreed; and what I am communicating is an agreed position,” said Hlongwane.