By Paul Nyathi | The Zimbabwe Football Association Executive Committee led by a furious Philip Chiyangwa has sued and banned for life its former General Secretary, Jonathan Mashingaidze from all football activities in the world.

Mashingaidze was issued with the order on charges of theft and fraudulently accruing a huge debt for ZIFA during his tenure as the Chief Executive Officer.

Apart from the indefinite ban, Mashingaidze has been summoned to answer to a charge of theft of Association funds in excess of US$ 700 000 which the financially troubled football body is claiming, with interest.

“Reference is made to the decision of the ZIFA Executive Committee on the 12th of December 2017 where it was resolved that in terms of Article 34(n) of the ZIFA constitution, you are forthwith expelled and banned for life from participation in association football in Zimbabwe in any role, position, or capacity whatsoever, subject to the confirmation of your expulsion and life ban by the ZIFA congress in terms of the ZIFA constitution,” reads the order.

According to the order, Mashingaidze is further charged as follows;

“Theft of Association funds in excess of US$ 700 000 as established by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) Committee of Inquiry Report dated September 2015.

“Fraudulently creating a US$ 7 million debt on behalf of the Association through unilaterally signing acknowledgements of debt where no services were rendered … as established by the SRC Report.

“Causing Zimbabwe to be expelled from the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying round by failing to comply with FIFA directives.

“Accordingly, you have provisionally ceased to be a member of the football community globally and you must therefore forthwith cease to act , represent, and associate yourself with ZIFA or any of its members in any manner whatsoever.”

In response Mashingaidze dismissed the ban describing it as a joke vowing to fight to the end to clear himself.

“This is the joke of the year. I haven’t received communication from those guys and I am not rushing to respond to that because I don’t want to dignify rank idiocy. I am going to issue a comprehensive statement tomorrow (Thursday), which I hope will help liberate our football from the G40 criminals.

“I have nothing to fear. I am sure the statement that I am going to give will make the whole of Zimbabwe appreciate who Philip Chiyangwa really is. It’s surprising he has the guts to accuse me of things that are non-existent, yet he has a cupboard full of skeletons,” claimed Mashingaidze.