Zimbabwe: Mighty Warriors’ salaries in limbo

Zimbabwe Senior women’s soccer team have another battle to fight just after burying the Brave Gladiators of Namibia, 4-0 on aggregate to book a date with neighbors Zambia in the final round of qualifications for the 2018 Ghana Women’s AFCON. The Mighty Warriors are reported to be sitting in at the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) village in Harare, demanding their allowances and winning bonuses. We understand that the players received (USD) $5 each as transport allowance and remaining dues dating back to those accrued in the COSAFA Championships held last year are to be paid in due course. The women have refused to leave the ZIFA Village’s premises until their debt has been settled.

The salaries phenomenon has become a popular but boring melody in the Mighty Warriors’ continental and global exploits. In fact, prior to the Namibia match, the Zimbabwean coach, Kwinji 15, came out to plead for financial support. Catching up with the ZIFA competition and communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela, this is what he had to say pertaining the matter:

“I would like to clarify the issue of $5, it was not their allowances for playing. It transports reimbursements. Across ZIFA we have rates which we use, which even councilors, employees and players are paid, so $5 is the local allowance for Harare-based players.

And, it depends, if you are staying outside Harare (it’s) $15 or more. So $5 is not allowances for their participation in the first round of the Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Yes, we owe them outstanding allowances. Our accounts department is seized with this matter and these amounts will be paid, not in cash, because we all know what is obtaining in our economy, we don’t have cash.

It is going to be directly channeled into their accounts.”

— Xolisani Gwesela, ZIFA Communications and Competitions Manager

Zimbabwe: Outspoken Chiyangwa could leave office soon

There is a possibility that the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president, Philip Chiyangwa, would be forced to vacate office after the immediate resignation of two federation’s board members, Piraishe Mabhena and Felton Kamambo. The resignation has left ZIFA with only three executive leaving them short of the five man quorum required to run the body. The board was already operating with three vacant positions after the passing on of Zimbabwe’s footballing legend, Edzai Kasinauyo and the delayed appointments of the PSL and women’s football seats.

Given the current situation, constitutionally, the secretary general would dissolve the whole body and assume the top position for a two month period awaiting general elections.

However, Philip “Big Phidza” Chiyangwa seems to be having none of that as they are reports citing that he was working on a plan to appoint two people to occupy the vacant positions. The ZIFA boss is also the president of the Southern African body of football, COSAFA which he assumed only a few months after winning the ZIFA top job. Millionaire, Chiyangwa, is your typical outspoken President Donald Trump kind of guy who was also influential in pushing for the replacement of the long serving AFCON former president, Issa Hayatou.

Do you think Chiyangwa has been backed into a corner this time?