ZIFA chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze, who was accused with criminally defaming predecessor Henrietta Rushwaya, walked free on Tuesday after the state withdrew the charges.
Rushwaya filed the complaint after media reports quoted Mashingaidze on June 12, 2012 as saying that two players – Ovidy Karuru and Knowledge Musona – had been seen leaving her office.
A news clip was also said to have been aired by ZBC News alleging that players visited Rushwaya’s offices for purposes of fixing matches.
Rushwaya was fired from ZIFA over the Asiagate match fixing scandal
On Tuesday, Mashingaidze, through his lawyer Ralph Maganga, denied the charges.
The state had however, indicated it no longer wanted to prosecute the case earlier this year.
“The constitutional court had already ruled on that section in the old constitution that it was not valid and unconstitutional,” said Maganga.
“Following this the state withdrew this case but however, ordered that we place our arguments based on the new constitution.
“However the case is still hanging at the con-court because it has not made a decision. So it’s now academic.”
Prosecutors alleged Mashingaidze publicised allegations that Rushwaya was trying to corruptly influence the two players to throw matches days before Zimbabwe played Burundi in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier back in 2012.
The state claimed that Mashingaidze said, “Four warriors players two of whom played in Guinea and Mozambique matches were allegedly caught red handed having lunch with the Asiagate suspect and being thanked for a job well-done.”
Rushwaya and the two players denied the meeting ever took place.Advertisement