The National Sports Council (NSC) has intensified efforts to resolve the long-standing netball quarrel

The National Sports Council (NSC) has intensified efforts to resolve the long-standing netball quarrel that has left CHANETA’S democratically elected secretary-general Anna Kibira in indefinite suspension since 2009.

NSC chairman Dioniz Malinzi said the crisis must come to an end and parties in the conflict have to come on the negotiating table.

The netball crisis is two-fold as one involves squabbles within the netball association of Tanzania Mainland and the other is between netball authorities for Mainland and Zanzibar.

The two netball associations of Zanzibar and Mainland have not been working in close cooperation the way they are supposed to work.

Either side, CHANETA and CHANEZA have been operating without linking the other, particularly when it comes to international issues.

The crisis came into being in 2009 and was rooted to CHANETA’’S dispute after staging the Taifa Cup netball at Kibaha that resulted into disagreement between chairperson Anna Bayi and secretary general Anna Kibira.

Kibira was since then ditched from operating as a secretary through a suspension that looks to have an endless barrier.

The Kibira drama complicated further the link between CHANETA and CHANEZA as the latter claimed not to be involved when it came to matters connected with international netball.

Former Minister for Information, Culture and Sports George Mkuchika worked hard with the then compatriot for Zanzibar Ali Juma Shamhuna to resolve the crisis but is subsided for a while before submerging in full steam.

Former NSC chairman Idd Kipingu also tried his best through a dialogue with his Zanzibar counterpart Sherry Hamis but there was no breakthrough.

Malinzi took trouble to travel to Zanzibar on Tuesday in a bid to resolve the dispute and came back with strategies to keep the situation under control.

The NSC chairman said a breakthrough would be realised to solve the hitch on permanent basis.

The NSC will have to fill in the crack created by CHANETA which is supposed to iron out the differences between the association and suspended Kibira.

However, CHANETA has not held an election since Bayi and her team came into power.

Rose Mkisi has been filling the gap left by Kibira as assistant secretary ever since the later was ‘buried’ through the indefinite suspension.

Tanzania has been competing at international tournaments with inclusion of players from either side of the United Republic but the cooperation between the two netball authorities have been rather weak.

CHANETA has been complaining for being sidelined when it comes to issues related to international netball cooperation.

“Travelling to Zanzibar is the opening step before other initiatives are taken to find a permanent resolution to the long-standing crisis,” said Malinzi, who came in power through Government appointment since mid last year.

“We have a job to do and can’t afford to do it in substandard way. It has to be completed through perfection,” said Malinzi.