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IS the axing of Zifa general secretary Jonathan Mashingaidze good riddance as some soccer fans have pronounced on social media networks or a dangerous gamble?

For many reasons, it is hard to mourn the departure of a man who assumed all responsibilities of the Zifa executive committee despite being an employee due to the bungling of former association boss Cuthbert Dube. The Dube-led Zifa board appointed him chief executive officer in 2010, but somehow, along the way Dube virtually ceded the executive committee’s responsibility to him with devastating consequences. The two ran down Zifa financially, organisationally and in every other way.

Mashingaidze did as he pleased at Zifa House and nothing could be done without him. He only listened to Dube and nobody else. His five-year tenure was destructive during the Dube administration. He was untouchable as he was like a “protected” species. After all, most income to finance the national teams came from Dube’s personal coffers and as his right hand man, Mashingaidze, used it as he pleased.

Mashingaidze became Zifa and Dube saw nothing wrong with it. Those that dared challenge his authority were ousted from the association on flimsy allegations as instilling fear became part of their modus operandi.

As Mashingaidze became more untouchable, he was involved in a number of underhand dealings that cost Zifa. In June last year, he was sucked into a massive $30,000 financial scandal in which he allegedly borrowed money from some clubs and regions under the guise that it was meant for the association. He abused his office by allegedly securing sports materials in the name of Zifa and none of these appeared on the Zifa creditors’ list.

In 2012, Mashingaidze allegedly borrowed $10,000 from Zifa Southern Region side Bulawayo Chiefs, while in 2014 he approached Zifa Northern Region where he was given $5,000. In 2014, just before the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania, he allegedly borrowed $10,000 from the Zimbabwe Referees’ Committee. He also sent workers from the Zifa Bulawayo office to get soccer balls from a Bulawayo sports shop worth $5,300. None of these were ever accounted for. He was also repeatedly accused of misleading, not only the board, but the entire nation by falsely claiming that he had sent documents related to the Asiagate scam that were being demanded by Fifa.

In short, dishonesty became deep rooted at Zifa during this dark period of his tenure. Although he can’t be solely blamed for the Warriors’ banning from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers following repeated warnings by Fifa, Mashingaidze should have been hauled over the coals as the warnings were sent directly to him. Instead, he chose to deal with the warnings by ignoring them, as the powerful general secretary that he had become, but nothing happened to him. Dube protected him.

Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa’s executive must be applauded for ejecting Mashingaidze from the association, but now have to avoid a dangerous gamble in choosing his replacement.

This is an opportunity for them to prove how serious they are about ushering in clean football administration by appointing an able administrator who will ensure the smooth running of Zifa.

We demand a general secretary that possesses a range of interpersonal skills and attributes that match the increasing demand for higher quality in football administration. Zifa must settle for someone that is well organised and effective. It is critical for the new general secretary to be able to multi-task and delegate, and to possess a sound business ability and not just a yes-man serving at the pleasure of the Zifa president.

A general secretary of Zifa deals with people that have big dreams and should therefore know that all players dream about being the best. They must appoint a person that also has the ability to dream together with the soccer players, but at the same time remain realistic.

We are tired of people that cause confusion and division at Zifa. We now want a general secretary that will make Zifa stronger by improving its operations and image because Mashingaidze had dragged the association into the mud.