OUTGOING PSMAS chief executive Cuthbert Dube, who has hogged the limelight following an exposé of his mega-salary over the past few days, was a philanthropist of some sort as he used his resources to bankroll the country’s soccer governing body — Zifa’s operations — albeit under unclear conditions. Senior Reporter
Records at hand indicate that Dube advanced cash loans in excess of $1 million to sustain the operations of the insolvent union through his private company, Buymore, since 2010.
Dube, one of the highest paid local executives with a monthly basic salary of $230 000, has single-handedly kept the association operational and allowed the senior national soccer team to participate in international competitions.
A schedule of the loans he advanced to Zifa includes taking care of soccer legend Peter Ndlovu’s medical expenses after his tragic accident in 2012, paying off former Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo’s severance package and advance salaries to the association’s staff.
Dube on December 18, 2012 advanced Zifa $1 675 for Peter Ndlovu’s X-rays at Diagnostic X-ray Centre. He also paid Gumbo’s salaries amounting to $25 000 on December 10, 2012 and then his package of $15 000 paid in two instalments on February 15, 2013 and March 8, 2013 respectively. Between June 13 and August last year, he lent the association a combined $41 000 as part-payment for chartered flights to the Cosafa tournament in Zambia and a trip to Guinea.
Dube’s largesse also saw him lend the association a cumulative $75 000 to settle staff salaries between December 19, 2011 and March 26, 2012.
The loans schedule also shows that he made a payment of $200 000 for chartering a plane and match expenses for the Warriors’ match against Mali.
There are several other amounts, including allowances to Warriors, purchase of furniture for the Zifa Village and board allowances over the past four years that Dube availed.
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Zifa board member for finance Retired Brigadier Elliot Kasu confirmed the debt, but could not reveal the conditions of these loans.
“I am aware of the loans, but for the conditions, phone the secretariat,” Kasu said. Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze was unreachable for comment.
