HARARE - Peter Chingoka earned my respect over the years, both as a man and as a professional, and that never changed a bit until his retirement as chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) yesterday and probably never will.
After several board members and administrators were either chucked out or forced to resign at the height of strife a decade ago, Chingoka seemed isolated for many years until his long-overdue decision to walk away yesterday – the only person left in the Zimbabwe Cricket leadership who knows the game well and could dine with the top echelon of cricket chiefs at the ICC or Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
It’s hard to exonerate a leader for the demise of a sport or organisation, especially if he has been around for that long, and indeed my good old man PC ought to take a helluva lot of flak for the sorry state of cricket in Zimbabwe.
But my other view is that Chingoka got himself tainted along the way by the undesirable elements which infiltrated the game in later years after assuming key roles in ZC.
Looking back, I am sure Chingoka would wish he had walked away much earlier, or before people could be so chuffed to see his back as was the case when news broke of his retirement broke out yesterday.
That in mind, it is hard for cricket followers in this country to believe that Chingoka’s departure will make any difference if people like Wilson Manase (his successor) and others stay on, because they are associated with the Chingoka’s administration, and vice versa.
Chingoka might not be physically present now, but he will likely wield influence in the game and how its managed considering that most of the people left on the board owe their presence to him.
Some might say Chingoka’s exit is a good development for the sport, but that long-awaited piece of news is immediately damped by the continued presence of the current executive.
If the current executive is truly there for the love of the game, they should do the noble thing, like Chingoka has done. This will allow the game to open a new chapter.
The entire board must step down and elections be held for a new leadership of cricket in Zimbabwe.