Story by Mthokozisi Dube
THE battle for control within Zimbabwe’s swimming fraternity has reached fever pitch, with ongoing power struggles threatening to negatively impact athletes ahead of the national senior and junior swimming championships scheduled for later this month.
For an extended period, the Zimbabwe Swimming Association has operated without substantive committees, a situation that led to the establishment of interim structures in Harare and Bulawayo. However, the move has resulted in a tug-of-war following the emergence of parallel structures attempting to assert authority.
In Bulawayo, an interim committee chaired by Lucinda Afzal successfully hosted the EcoCash National Swimming Gala, where athletes to represent the province at the national senior and junior championships were selected based on qualifying times.
With less than a month remaining before the junior championships in Mutare, confusion now reigns as some selected swimmers face possible exclusion under unclear circumstances.
Concerned parents have expressed frustration, warning that they may withdraw their children from the sport unless the regulator intervenes to restore order.
“We did not even have Christmas holidays because of this confusion. We now have two parallel structures, and it pains us as parents to see these ugly fights weighing heavily on our children. This is not the sport we want to be associated with,” said one parent.
“Things are not well, and it is heartbreaking that the children are paying the price after all the hard work,” added another.
Interim Bulawayo Amateur Swimming Association (BASA) Chairperson Lucinda Afzal said her committee would stand by the athletes who were selected.
“Our priority at BASA is the athletes. Regardless of any purported lists, we will take the selected athletes to the national championships. These championships are a gateway to international competitions and scholarships,” she said.
Zimbabwe Aquatics Union President Onsimo Nhondowa acknowledged the turmoil currently affecting the sport but expressed optimism that elections scheduled for April would restore stability.
“Zimbabwe swimming was left without a quorum, prompting us to appoint chairpersons to run affairs until elections are held. This arrangement is meant to restore sanity, and we believe the situation will normalise after the elections,” said Nhondowa.
The dispute has since spilled into the courts, with time running out ahead of the junior championships scheduled for January 30 to February 1 in Mutare, and the senior championships set for March in Harare.
