The Sports and Recreation Commission has imposed a five-year suspension on senior aquatic sport administrators Onismo Nhondova and Zanele Nkomazana following prolonged leadership disputes that authorities say destabilised the sport.
Nhondova, who served as president of Zimbabwe Aquatics Union, and Nkomazana, chairperson of Zimbabwe Swimming, are barred from participating in all aquatic sport administration and activities with immediate effect.
In a statement released yesterday, the SRC said the decision was taken in the national interest under Section 30 of the Sports and Recreation Commission Act [Chapter 25:15].
“The suspension follows a period of sustained instability within Zimbabwe Aquatics, particularly in the Swimming discipline, which has negatively affected athletes and key stakeholders,” the commission said.
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The regulator added that the sanctions form part of efforts to restore proper governance, integrity and stability within aquatic sports structures.
Sources familiar with developments within Zimbabwe Aquatics indicated that persistent disagreements between Nhondova and Nkomazana created divisions within the sport, resulting in operational paralysis despite earlier directives from the SRC to resolve the conflict.
Investigations revealed several governance failures, including the emergence of parallel leadership structures managing swimming affairs, conflicting communication channels that brought the sport into disrepute, and competing announcements of national swimming championships by rival factions claiming authority over the discipline.
The SRC also cited widespread confusion among athletes, administrators and provincial associations, alongside multiple complaints lodged with government departments regarding leadership shortcomings.
Authorities concluded that continued leadership disputes demonstrated a failure to stabilise the sport, prompting the commission to intervene decisively.
The SRC said stakeholders will be updated as further measures are taken to normalise administration within aquatic sports in Zimbabwe.
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