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Cuthbert Dube

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
JOURNALISTS from the mainstream media have taken a swipe at Zifa president, Cuthbert Dube and his chief executive officer, Jonathan Mashingaidze for continuously snubbing them, only to surface when it’s convenient to the national association.
Dube and Mashingaidze have developed a tendency of not picking up their mobile phones, and in the unlikely event that the calls are answered, it’s a familiar response, that they are in a meeting.

There have also been allegations that Dube has his favourite clique of journalists, that he responds to promptly, when they solicit for interviews.

Fireband female sports reporter, Grace Chirumanzu accused Dube of turning to the media only when he was fire-fighting.
Dube has been in hibernation over the last couple of months, with repeated calls to his mobile going unanswered. He only surfaced last week, through a press release on the current financial problems bedeviling his organisation.

“I think it’s only in Zimbabwe, where a football president realises there’s the media when he’s on fire or when he feels like communicating. Zifa president Cuthbert Dube is one man whose communication with the media is one way. He says what he wants and we write. There is never we ask, he responds and we write,” charged Chirumanzu.

She also alleged that the Zifa president had his own ‘favourites’ within the profession.
“Dube, has a few selected journalists he talks to and that’s only his trusted indunas. Those, he knows, will never be critical of what he says, those, he knows, will be lizards, nodding to each of his statements without being objective,” said Chirumanzu in her facebook post.

“Those are some of the silly, man-made challenges, why being a successful journalist in Zimbabwe, appears an insurmountable task. We’re faced with making one of the two choices, be critical and objective and you’ll receive a blackout, take bribes and never question and you’ll be well connected,” she said.

Chirumanzu received numerous comments from fellow sports journalists, who have also experienced the same “blackout” from Dube and Mashingaidze.

Nkosana Sibanda, a journalist, even added more comedy to the whole debate, when he posted Dube’s usual signature response to emails;
“Hie, I acknowledge receiving your e-mail. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Enjoy your day”.

Zimpapers’ SportsZone Editor, Augustine Hwata said;
“Zifa need to do more for our football, than throwing it down the drain, through their egos.”

Zifa communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela, tried to defend his bosses saying he has always been available to comment on any issues.