Dubious boxing stables have sprouted all over the country with some of them using names of Zimbabwe Boxing Federation open class boxers to enhance their profiles to get fights, it has emerged.
By Nyambira Chivasa
The scandal that is allegedly widespread could rope in the Registrar General’s office since the process has reportedly involved age cheating and identity forging.
The latest case on record took place in 2012 when Masvingo province was battling to have pugilist Moses Rusimati participate in the Zimbabwe Amateur Boxers Association national boxing tournament in Hwange for the province on November 3. At the same time, another, Moses Rusimati from the Zvobgo stable of Masvingo was fighting in Namibia against the Namibian Middle-weight champion, Sakaria Lukas, in a middle weight four round bout.
In an interview with Standardsport, Masvingo Amateur Boxing Association secretary general Festus Dumbu, revealed that Moses Rusimati of Triangle Boxing Stable has never travelled outside Zimbabwe and his passport has never been used.
“Our Moses’s passport has never been stamped. He has never travelled outside the country. The passport which he got through the assistance of Triangle Boxing Club has never been used. We then wonder who this other Moses Rusimati is and which travelling documents he used,” Dumbu fumed.
However, The Namibian Sun, in an article published on October 26 2012 titled Best kept secret set to explode reported that November 3 might just turn out to be the date which one of the most highly rated boxing talent could finally make his presence felt.
That was the date when the MTC Sunshine Boxing Academy hosted its boxing bonanza dubbed “The Last Man Standing” Championship.
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In the report, then promoter, Nestor Tobias was quoted as saying; “Lukas is definitely a world champion in the making. He will get a chance to further his reputation when he takes on Zimbabwe’s Moses Rusimati in a Junior Lightweight four-round bout on that night” NewsDay of October 19 2012 in an article headlined Boxer Ntando returns to Namibia further states that Zimbabwe Welterweight Boxing Champion Charles Manyuchi and Moses Rusimati from Masvingo were going to trade leather with Namibian boxers.
However, Zvobgo Boxing Stable director Edison Zvobgo said he knew the boy from long back when they were at his stable together with Charles Manyuchi.
“He is equally good. He is in the same grade with Manyuchi but after he left our stable, we have not been in contact and I don’t know what has been happening to him of late. But I can confirm that during his time at our boxing stable, he had a number of fights outside the country contrary to what is being alleged that he has never fought beyond our borders. He has been to Namibia, Zambia and Tanzania several times,” Zvobgo said.
Dumbu, in a damning report titled Shocking news about amateur boxing news in Zimbabwe which Standardsport is in possession of, said that the Masvingo Boxing Federation has been at war with the Zimbabwe Boxing Federation over ZBF’s repeated disqualification of Masvingo Province’s Moses Rusimati and Timothy Murinye on allegations that the two turned professional long ago.
ZBF alleges that the duo entered into professional boxing contracts with Zvobgo Boxing Stable owned by Zvobgo Junior.
The two boxers denied the allegations but agreed that they took part in invitation exhibitions bouts of professionals at a tournament of professionals held on March 13 2010 at Masvingo Civic Centre and no contracts were entered into.
In the report, Dumbu further states that the federation suspects that there is a match-throwing scandal involving members in the local boxing board of control where some individuals impersonate local boxers then go and play to lose outside the country and get paid for building the profiles of outside boxers.
