FUFA held a successful Judicial Bodies Retreat that was convened at the A’lure Suites and Hotel in Mutundwe on Friday aimed at creating a vibrant and robust judicial system meant to promote, develop as well as protecting the game of football in the country against vices.
While presiding over the one day retreat, FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim emphasized the importance of having the various judicial bodies working closely together to deliver fair, free and fast justice to the football stakeholders.
‘As FUFA we need to build a very strong and robust judicial team that is going to compose of members and some secretariat staff. The secretariat personnel ought to be competent enough to support members who are volunteers coming from other world(s) including coming from the legal fraternity/background to try and help us take decisions. At the moment FUFA is employing two full time lawyers who are supporting the judicial bodies from a secretariat point of view; to collect the evidence, to make the communications, to make sure the rules are interpreted accordingly among others but then we rely on the judicial bodies to interpret, apply and take judicial decisions on behalf of FUFA.’ the president remarked.
He further highlighted on the creation of the position of the chairperson of the FUFA Judicial commission by the FUFA Executive as according to the FUFA Code.
‘As FUFA, the executive we want the independence of these judicial bodies to be emphasized the decisions are taken and that is why in our code we have created the position of the chairperson of the judicial commission who is supposed to supervise the implementation of the judicial processes and ensure that there is proper review, proper decision making in accordance. Somebody who is going to be supervising and guiding the other judicial components that make the entire judicial commission of FUFA.’ He stated.
Dr. Azar Taib who is the chairperson for Judicial Bodies Commission implored the participants to allow and support the different bodies charged with responsibility to work.
“This is a voluntary responsibility and I trust that the members in this room are willing to work. Let us allow these committees to work. We can always have discussions around in case of challenges and grievances and I commit to always be around to see how we navigate. Secondly, I suggest that the secretariat should work around having us taking stock of some of these issues that come up. Members of these committees probably chairpersons (and maybe in the presence of other members) can always be meeting probably every three months to have quarterly discussions and take stock of what is happening and if need be, be reporting to the Executive on what is happening.” Dr. Azar stated.
The retreat that was coordinated by FUFA legal Manager Denis Lukambi and legal officer Sheba Ampaire discussed a range of topics ranging from Ethics and Disciplinary , Vices threatening football among others after every which the participants contributed to discussions.
