Government could move to suspend Zimbabwe board

There is speculation that the Sports and Recreation Committee, an umbrella board for all sports associations in Zimbabwe, are considering dissolving the Zimbabwe Cricket board led by Peter Chingoka and appointing an interim executive.

It is understood that the resolution to proceed with such a move came during the ruling Zanu-PF party's three-day conference which ended on Sunday in Esigodini, about 45km outside Bulawayo. Sources privy to the proceedings said that it was resolved that the Chingoka-led board would be fired and an interim executive be put in place until ZC is able hold their next annual general meeting in August. It is possible, however, that many officials, including Chingoka, could remain on the interim board.

There were also unconfirmed reports that Themba Mliswa, the controversial figure whose threats forced former Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu into early retirement, might be appointed as chairman of the interim board. Mliswa, a hardline Zanu-PF supporter, was at the conference as a delegate. He has been active inside cricket in the last couple of months, first as chairman of a new province in Mashonaland West and also in Matabeleland North and South where he has helped to set up new committees.

Were this to be true and Mliswa was to be handed such an important role, then it would undoubtedly signal a mass exodus of the remaining players and administrators, as not only is his background well known inside Zimbabwe, but his appointment would end any lingering claims the board has of being apolitical.

The Zimbabwe government's sudden interest in cricket stems from the realisation that millions of dollars in foreign currency is generated by the sport, but much of that never reaches the country as it does not go through the proper channels and remains in accounts overseas. It was for breaching such rules that last week two players were imprisoned, and Chingoka and Ozias Bvute were arrested and subsequently released.