Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Robson Sharuko
11 November 2009
Harare — THE Dynamos board of directors a powerful coalition of the club's founder members and former players -- have passed a vote of no confidence in their executive chairman Patson Moyo as the true picture of the boardroom split at the country's biggest football club explodes into the public domain.
The DeMbare leadership has been trying to keep the developments under a blanket of secrecy in a vain battle to try and keep the case away from the public amid fears that it could disrupt the club's battle for the championship at a sensitive phase of the campaign.
Club chief executive Casper Muzenda on Monday dismissed reports that the DeMbare board and Moyo had parted ways and said the directors were still to meet to discuss the problems that had surfaced in their executive committee.
Moyo also said he was still the DeMbare chairman.
However, The Herald can reveal today that virtually all the members of the club's board of directors apparently signed a vote of no confidence in their executive chairman last week the culmination of deteriorating working relations between Moyo and the board.
It also emerged yesterday that a similar vote of no confidence in the Harare businessman's leadership was initially moved by one of the club's directors, Bernard Marriot Lusengo, during a board meeting in Harare in September.
But the motion was opposed by board chairman Richard Chiminya who felt that such a decision could rock the Harare giants' boat and the board then decided to call Moyo to appear before a hearing on September 15.
With tension between some board members and Moyo simmering since then, coupled with serious differences emerging between the Harare businessman and club secretary-general Stan Kasukuwere, which also sucked in the technical team and players, the executive chairman quit the club last week.
Eight of the 11 members of the Dynamos board of directors then quickly endorsed that decision, in a clear and massive vote of no confidence in the Harare businessman's leadership, of the country's biggest and volatile football club.
Although Moyo changed his decision to leave his post, the fact that the bigger constituency within the club's board of directors, was quick to endorse his resignation, speaks volumes about how he has lost their support and signals the changing face of the club's leadership.
The eight Dynamos directors who endorsed Moyo's resignation are Freddie Mkwesha, Robson Rundaba, Owen Chandamale, Ephraim Mupariwa, Charles Gwatidzo, Patrick Amato Dzvene, Sunday Chidzambwa and Bernard Marriot Lusengo.
"We, the undersigned, are in possession of a copy from the club executive chairman (Mr P. Moyo) regarding (his) resignation from the club," reads the document that was sent to chief executive Muzenda.
"We do endorse the resignation."
Three other directors board chairman Chiminya, Nathan Maziti and Jairos Banda did not sign the document.
Documents show that there has been a growing rift between some of the club's directors and the executive, especially Moyo, dating back to August and September.
At a board meeting in the capital in September, attended by all the directors except for Chidzambwa, the board raised concern that executive committee members were awarding themselves allowances to go for away games without its approval.
Minutes of that meeting show the deteriorating relationship between the two parties.
"Mr P. Moyo has not yet accounted for every cent of the money advanced to him (US$600) for the trip to South Africa. Secretary to the board should follow it up," reads part of the minutes.
"Appointment of head coach -- the correct procedure was not followed. The board should have been briefed by the director of coaching.
"The players, after initially requesting to meet the board chairman, met with the secretary to the board to air their grievances, which were:
The board resolved that:
MR BM LUSENGO MOVED A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE CHAIRMAN (MOYO) AND RECOMMENDED THAT HE BE SUSPENDED FROM HIS POST WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. THIS MOTION WAS SECONDED BY MR C. GWATIDZO.
MR R. CHIMINYA COUNTERED THE MOTION BY SUGGESTING THAT THE BOARD SHOULD NOT ROCK THE BOAT. THIS COUNTER PROPOSAL WAS NOT SECONDED. AFTER A VERY LONG ARGUMENT, THE MATTER WAS LEFT HANGING AND THE BOARD RESOLVED TO CALL THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND HIS TREASURER TO A HEARING.
Five percent of net takings accruing to Dynamos Football Club home games should be remitted to the board of directors' account with immediate effect. It was also pointed out that at the present moment the board is not operating as a unit. Board members were advised not to support individuals in the executive committee. Divisions should be shunned and leaders should lead by example.
Three members of the club's executive committee - vice-chairman Mike Ignatius, secretary-general Kasukuwere and treasurer Harrison Mbewe - have also sent a petition to the directors in which they question Moyo's leadership.
"We, the undersigned, having noted with concern the deteriorating relationship with Mr. Patson Moyo, the executive chairman, would like to lodge our grievances jointly as follows:
Read comments. Write your own.
Copyright © 2009 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
mr moyo, nomatter what the board or anyone else says, we are fully behind you. we support you, we can never have another chairman like you. long live