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ZRU president Nyararai Sibanda

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has suspended the Nyararai Sibanda-led Zimbabwe Rugby Union board with immediate effect and will recommend people to the Minister of Sport and Recreation individuals to administer the union.

This is in line with Section 30 of the SRC Act Chapter (25:15) of 1991, revised in 1996.

In a statement released last night, acting SRC director-general Joseph Muchechetere said the suspension was in view of the continued deterioration of the state and administration of rugby as evidenced by poor results from matches played against Namibia, Kenya, Tunisia and Uganda in the Africa Rugby Gold Cup.

The SRC also accused ZRU of failing to adhere to provisions of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act (Chapter 25:15) of 1991 and revised in 1996 and regulations (1995) by wilfully not seeking clearance of the Zimbabwe women’s rugby team which toured Botswana on May 27 this year and when the union hosted the Zambian national teams in June. ZRU stands accused of failing to accommodate the visiting Zambian national teams, which seriously tarnished the image and brand of the country.

“The executive board has ceased to operate as one unit and as such fissures have been the order of the day due to infighting that has continued to dog the leadership since 2016.  I also wish to bring to the attention of the public that after the appointment of the board and when we witnessed signs of infighting within the board, both the Ministry of Sport and Recreation and the SRC intervened on a number of occasions to try and discourage the practice.

Unfortunately these fell on deaf ears.

“ In view of the above, the SRC board, guided by the SRC Act (Chapter 15:15 of 1991 and revised in 1996) section 30 has ruled that the Zimbabwe Rugby Union has ceased to operate as a National Sport Association, failed to comply with the SRC Act and conducted itself in a manner contrary to national interests,” read the statement.

The statement further stated that the SRC board’s call for Sibanda to make a written presentation by August 4 was totally ignored despite numerous reminders made to the ZRU chief executive officer.

“As such, they lost the opportunity given to be heard. In line with this suspension, none of the members of the suspended executive board  shall be permitted to transact any business on behalf of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union during the period of the  suspension.

“The Sports and Recreation Commission will inform World Rugby and the African Rugby Confederation to update them on these developments which have been taken in the interest of national interests to fight bad governance of rugby.The SRC does so as a way of protecting the rugby loving public from abuse by leadership of rugby which puts forward individual objectives at the expense of the public and brand Zimbabwe. Such executives forget that the offices are held in trust, hence the need to observe good corporate governance,” read the SRC statement.

@skhumoyo2000