Seven cricket clubs from Gweru and Kwekwe affiliated to the Midlands Cricket Board have petitioned the provincial cricket mother-body for pre-election irregularities which they have described as breach of the board’s constitution.
Delicious Mathuthu
In a letter addressed to the Midlands Cricket Association chairman, Charles Office, the clubs expressed concern over the way the incumbent board breached the constitution during the nomination process. Aspiring candidates were given two days to collect and return nomination papers instead of 20 days in line with the constitution. This then saw a number of aspiring candidates failing to get the required documents to contest during the election due to a limited timeframe.
“We the undersigned clubs of the Midlands Cricket Association express displeasure in the manner in which you have facilitated the pre-election process.
In line with Section 25 of the provincial constitution, you had up to 20 days to circulate the nomination papers to all clubs.
“However, you decided to give clubs less than 48hrs to collect nomination papers from the province and return them with all the required accompanying documents.
“You are well aware that some of the accompanying documents require at least seven days to acquire under normal circumstances.
“Your negligence or deliberate action prejudices prospective candidates for provincial board positions, clubs and the future of the province’s cricket at large,” reads the letter.
The clubs further threatened to take unspecified action against the association chairman and executive if they are not given at least seven days to acquire all the necessary documentation for aspiring candidates.
“The undersigned clubs are requesting for at least seven days to submit the nomination forms and look forward to your urgent response to this letter. Failure to reply to the clubs within 24hrs will force clubs to take further action,” the letter further stated.
The affected clubs include Gweru, Kwekwe, Redcliff, Mbizo, Queens and Mkoba Senga Cricket Clubs.
