By Farai D Hove| Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son in law, Gerald Mlothswa has taken over the Sports And Recreation Commission board
Everything has happened in Minister Kirsty Coventry (currently on maternity leave)’s absence, and ZimEye could not get convincing confirmation that she has approved the sudden move which comes after she fired the previous board.
And does Zimbabwe need an SRC in the first place? ZimEye found that the board has quasi ministerial powers hence the clash with Coventry last year.
Mlotshwa will head the government board which has ministerial powers for the next 5 years.
The announcement was made by the acting minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kazembe Kazembe.
In addition to Mlotshwa, Kazembe Kazembe named Dr Allen Chiura, former Zimbabwe Rugby Union chief executive Colleen de Jong, and former ZIFA board member and Aces Youth Soccer Academy founder and director Nigel Munyati as commissioners.
Others named are: Karen Mutasa and veteran sports administrator Titus Zvomuya have been roped into the new board as well as Prince Mupazviriho (director-general).
Said Kazembe, “as the Acting Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation with the approval of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and on behalf of the minister, I have the great pleasure to announce the new SRC board.
“The board is appointed in line with the terms of Section 5 of the Sport and Recreation Commission Act (Chapter 25:15) and will take effect from the 1st of June 2019,” ready part of the statement.
Zimbabwe currently faces several major competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt from June 21 to July 19, the Netball World Cup in July and the African Games in August.
The SRC has quasi ministerial powers. It was created by an Act of Parliament Chapter 25:15 of 1991. A reading says the Sports and Recreation Commission derives its mandate from the Sports and Recreation Commission Act and reports to the Ministry responsible for sport. Part of the mandate of the Sports and Recreation Commission is to facilitate for the accessibility of sport and recreation programmes to the people of Zimbabwe and to oversee the general running of sport and recreation programmes by the National Sports Associations.