Despite all the noise concerning conduct of local referees in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League last season, 13 of the match officials have been included in the 2012 Fifa referees panel.
The appointment will allow for the referees to officiate in any Fifa-organised event around the world if selected.
In a statement from the Zifa Referees Committee, Norman Matemera, Ruzive Ruzive and Thabani Bamala are eligible to officiate as centre referees in international matches.
On the womens side, Pamela Chiwaya and Rusina Majo who have been the countrys representatives on the Fifa referees panel for some time now, have been retained.
Bongani Gadzikwa, Tapfumanei Mutengwa, Abraham Manda and Alfred Zindove have also been retained as assistant referees. Salani Ncube and Edgar Rumeck are the new comers on the list.
Women assistant referees Stella Ruvinga and Rudo Nhahanga have also found their way into the list. This will come as good news for local match officials who were last season discredited after a deluge of allegations of match-fixing and poor match officiating were raised.
The allegations led Zifa to hire foreign coaches to handle the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final matches. Meanwhile, the Zifa referees committee has also appointed a new Zifa panel of referees that will take charge of matches this year.
The committee have selected 53 match officials from the 164 who took part in tests held in Bulawayo and Harare.
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This selection culminated in the grading test held at Prince Edward School, Harare, for the referees based in the Northern Region and Hillside Teachers Training College, Bulawayo, for Southern Region, said Zifa Referee Committee secretary-general Tendayi Bwanya.
The tests were supervised by Caf instructor Wilfred Mukuna, Gladmore Muzambi (Futuro III Instructor), Patrick Marumbi and Tendayi Bwanya (Futuro III Instructor).
The new Zifa Panel are expected to attend a two-day refresher course that starts on Friday next week at Prince Edward School.
Zifa panel of referees Harare: P Chadya, P Chiwaya, A Dube, N Matemera, N Moyo, B Muchenje, C Muringayi, S Mushanguri, N Musundire, T Mutengwa, S Ruvinga, R Ruzive, A Zindove Bulawayo: T Kacheche, H Mabhena, B Malandule, P Ncube, M Ndebele, R Nanhanga, B Nyika, F Sibanda, S Sibanda, T Tawengwa, M Mathuthu Manicaland: T Chavanga, B Chimene, L Chitsa, K Faranando, K Majo, R Mugorosa. Midlands: T Bamala, N Chirwa, T Kusosa, L Magaya, M Majoni, T Masaa, A Parehwa. Masvingo: M Masakadza, B Matenga, J Muzondi Matabeleland North: B Makeka, A Manda, H Ndazi, P Simtenda Matabeleland South: S Ncube, N Nduna Mashonaland East: B Gadzikwa, L Kunatsa, P Naparwo, E Rumeck. Mashonaland West: J Kuuya, S Mutambisi Mashonaland Central: A Mutena
