HARARE – Lawyers representing, Philemon Machana have written to the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) rubbishing claims made against the football administrator by an interested individual who wants him disqualified from the list of candidates eyeing the association’s presidency.
ZIFA is expected to hold an election January 25 next year to choose leaders that shall constitute the football mother body’s substantive executive.
In the build up to the election, one K Mugadzweta wrote to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission in a letter copied to the ZIFA Electoral Committee accusing Machana of financial misconduct.
Mugadzaweta wants Machana disqualified and be investigated on alleged misappropriation of funds involving over US$700,000.
Through his lawyer Admire Rubaya, Machana told the ZIFA Ethics Committee that the allegations were baseless and a smear campaign by his detractors who were aiming to intimidate him.
In a letter dated December 18 gleaned by this publication, Machana said the complaint is calculated to have him persecuted for his role in the Felton Kamambo’s long ousted ZIFA administration yet he was part of a board whose other members have been left untouched.
“This dubious report to ZACC and the Ethics Committee, is part of a wider smear campaign which attempts to sabotage our client’s candidacy through underhanded tactics and manufactured accusations.
“These unfounded allegations are a desperate ploy to discredit him and undermine his chances of success.
“We implore and urge the Committee to dismiss these baseless claims with the contempt they deserve,” wrote his lawyer.
Mugadzaweta alleged that an audit revealed that ZIFA transferred $740,270 out of a $749,996 FIFA grant into an account owned and controlled by Conduit Investments, a company in which Machana is both a shareholder and director, something that would be in contravention of FIFA and ZIFA statutes.
Machana, through his lawyer, rubbished the claims as a malicious attempt to undermine his candidacy and tarnish his reputation.
“We hasten to posit that the timing of this alleged complaint is highly suspicious,” he said.
“The $740,270 referred to was moved to Conduit under a ZIFA resolution to avert a potential risk while a new ZIFA account was being opened. This was communicated with FIFA and was done in good faith.
“The transferred money was moved back to ZIFA immediately after a new ZIFA account had been opened and no transactions were effected before the funds were moved back.
“This matter was duly prosecuted after it was reported to ZACC by SRC, and all the accused persons were acquitted by the Harare Regional Court.
“What is interesting is that our client was criminally charged together with Mr Farai Jere, another presidential candidate, who equally stands acquitted.
“The complainant’s sponsors are only after our client for the obvious reasons that they are afraid of his popularity, thus they want him removed by hook or crook,” Rubaya wrote.
Mugadzaweta also alleged that Machana’s company was getting irregular payments.
He said Conduit Investments received $25,600 under the guise of a loan repayment.
Machana says all he did was above board and his detractors want him punished for his good deeds for the betterment of the game.
“Conduit was periodically and, on a need-to-need basis, extending interest free loans to ZIFA in times of need. In all those times, resolutions would be passed first.
“Therefore, there is no loan that was extended to ZIFA by our client’s company without a resolution from ZIFA and all such loans were interest free.
“It is shockingly outrageous that our client is being subjected to abuse and harassment for his benevolence relating to his willingness to help ZIFA when it was in dire financial straits which caused a crisis. His company incurred losses by providing substantial loans at zero interest,” Rubaya wrote.
Machana further rubbished claims that he did not disclose his interest in Conduit when all the transactions involving ZIFA were done.
Rubaya said at all times his client has not failed to declare his role as CEO, founder, and shareholder of Conduit Investments.
“No one at ZIFA has ever claimed ignorance of this fact; FIFA, the SRC, and the general public were all aware of his association.
“The football team linked to our client proudly carries the name Conduit, making it impossible for anyone to claim they were unaware of his connection.”
