SRC tightens screws on Zifa

Sport
SPORTS and Recreation Commission (SRC) have ordered Zifa to further reduce the newly-set election nomination fees.

SPORTS and Recreation Commission (SRC) have ordered Zifa to further reduce the newly-set election nomination fees.

STAFF REPORTERS

Zifa had on Thursday cut the nomination fees for March’s board elections from $7 500 to $5 000. However, the SRC have maintained that the fees are still “prohibitive” and a heated meeting took place in Harare on Friday where they read the Riot Act to Zifa.

This will be the third time that the football governing body would be sent back to the drawing board to look at their fees structure that started at a shocking $10 000.

The newly-established independent Sport ministry has added its voice to the growing chorus of disapproval of the nomination fees which they deem as a plot by the current Zifa office bearers to shut out other aspiring candidates.

After Friday’s meeting SRC director-general Charles Nhemachena was optimistic Zifa would this time around draw up reasonable figures.

“They (Zifa) presented their budget to us which had recent figures and their justification to the figures,” Nhemachena said.

“We assisted each other in identifying areas that need attention. I can give you a good example where they had indicated that security needed about $96 000 and ballot papers forking out something like $75 000. That needs to be trimmed down.”

Nhemachena added that Zifa’s defence for the high fees was that they wanted the elections to be self-funding unlike at the last election where they were left in a big debt after the polls.

“We really appreciate that they want the elections to be self-funding. We also understand that last time Zifa got into a big debt after the 2010 elections, but these figures defeat the cause of a democratic election. There is no level playing ground here,” he added.

Zifa are saying the election fees need to cater for accommodation, communication, stationery, transport and remuneration of the electoral committee members.