By Staff Reporter
Harare — The Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) is embroiled in controversy ahead of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Constitutional Amendment Review, scheduled for November 2, 2024.
Tongo Defence Chess Academy (TDCA), an affiliate of the ZCF, has raised significant objections to the upcoming meeting, leading to heightened tensions within the chess community.
In two letters dated October 25, sent to the Director General of the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) and the Secretary General of ZCF, legal representatives Charamba & Partners outlined several reasons for their objections.
TDCA argues that the current tenure of the ZCF has expired, rendering the Executive Committee ineligible to conduct the AGM and the Constitutional Amendment Review.
“The Executive Committee purporting to be calling for and holding this AGM and Constitutional Amendment Review had its term of Office expired in September 2024, them having been appointed in September 2019, for 5 years,” argued TDCA in the letter addressed to the Secretary General of ZCF.
Additionally, TDCA has criticized the logistics of the elections, asserting that attempting to accommodate over 400 affiliates in a mere 15-minute timeframe is “absurd, not practical and flawed.”
TDCA’s legal counsel further contends that the electoral and constitutional processes being proposed by the ZCF are “defective, flawed, invalid, irregular and illegal,” citing a historical lack of constitutional amendments approved by both the affiliates and the SRC.
Allowing the expired Executive Committee to oversee these critical processes, TDCA argues, could jeopardize the integrity of the ZCF: “To allow the currently expired Executive Committee to preside and run these two exercises will be akin to allowing a mosquito to cure malaria.”
In response to these concerns, TDCA is urging the SRC to intervene by appointing an independent committee to oversee both the constitutional amendment and subsequent elections, similar to the intervention that took place in 2019.
“The remedy to this is for SRC as it did in 2019, appoint an Independent Committee which will oversee the Constitution Amendment Review process and subsequent Elective process of ZCF Presidency as well. Precedent was set,” wrote the academy.
In the letters, TDCA formally requests that the SRC to:
“Formally inform of the dissolution of purported Current Executive, whose term of Office expired in September 2024.
“Direct that ZCF put on hold the intended Elective AGM and Constitutional Amendment
“Review process, meant for 02 November 2024 until proper and due process has been followed, as requested and according to law,” wrote the academy.”
TDCA has warned that it may pursue legal action if the SRC does not take action to dissolve the current executive and halt the AGM and amendment review by October 30, 2024. They are seeking urgent attention to ensure a fair and lawful process.
“Should we not hear from you by close of business on Wednesday 30 October 2024, we will take it that you have refused, neglected, avoided and are unwilling to consider our request.
“May you treat this matter as urgent, and should we resort to unnecessary litigation over this issue, we will seek costs against those responsible on a higher scale.
As the chess community awaits responses from both the ZCF and the SRC, tensions are escalating over the governance of chess in Zimbabwe.
