Zifa avoid Friday the 13th nightmare

zifaRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CASH-STRAPPED Zifa yesterday moved swiftly to save their Southern Region office building in Bulawayo from being auctioned by engaging CBZ Bank which it owes $1,5 million.

The bank, in an effort to recover its money, approached the courts leading to the attachment of the association’s building which according to an advert in yesterday’s paper was supposed to be auctioned on March 13.

“Hollands Auctioneers, Estate Agents and Valuers, Duly instructed by the Sherriff of the High Court of Zimbabwe, we shall sell by Public Auction the following Immovable property on Friday 13 March 2015 . . . CBZ v Zimbabwe Football Association and Cuthbert A Dube SSB05/15:Stand 13689 Bulawayo Township of Stand 321 Bulawayo Township situate in the District of Bulawayo,” read the advert in yesterday’s paper.

A similar advert was placed in the same newspaper last week.

Xolisani Gwesela, the Zifa communications manager, said a team from Zifa met CBZ officials and agreed on a payment plan.

“The Bulawayo office is no longer being auctioned. The Sherriff of the High Court has been notified of the new position by CBZ Bank officials. Actually, we’re going to engage all those we owe so that matters are resolved amicably,” said Gwesela.

Zifa was advanced a loan by CBZ Bank to fund some of the national team trips and its president Cuthbert Dube pledged one of his properties as collateral.

Last month the Sherriff of the High Court raided Dube’s house to attach some movable property which included top of the range Mercedes Benz and a Range Rover, among a fleet of his luxurious cars.

Zifa, apart from the bank, owes its employees and others who left the organisation varying amounts in unpaid allowances and last week some of its property taken from the Zifa Village in Mount Hampden in Harare which included an artificial turf donated by Fifa, was auctioned in a bid to recover the oustanding amount.

Former Zifa communications manager Nicky Dlamini-Moyo won a case of unfair dismissal at a Labour Court and proceeded to attach property at the Zifa Village and their 53 Livingstone Avenue in Harare.

Zifa board member (finance), Benard Gwarada had his property attached over a $27,000 Zifa debt owed to another commercial bank, FBC Bank.

Gwarada’s company, LED Travel and Tours at one time bought air tickets for the national team on behalf of Zifa but Zifa failed to refund the money.

Zifa also owes Pandhari Lodge over $200,000 for accommodation provided to the national team during the ill-fated Afcon 2015 qualifiers.

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