Sandaland Fashion Wear Limited has demanded an apology from Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Minister Paul Makonda over remarks concerning Taifa Stars jerseys, threatening legal action if the apology is not issued.
Lawyers representing the company said yesterday that they had already issued a notice of intention to sue, as well as a demand for compensation over statements they say have damaged Sandaland’s reputation, brand and commercial interests.
The lawyers, led by advocate Cletus Nziku, said Sandaland’s position is that the remarks went beyond criticism of the jerseys and had the potential to harm the company’s standing in the market. The latest development follows comments made by Makonda on September 16, when he questioned the quality and status of newly publicised Taifa Stars jerseys.
He said the jerseys were not recognised by his ministry and questioned why an image of Deputy Minister Hamis Mwinjuma, popularly known as Mwana FA, had been used in promoting them without his office being informed.
Sandaland subsequently announced that it was considering legal action, arguing that the minister’s remarks had affected the company’s name, reputation and the standing of its products.
But the company’s lawyers have now taken the dispute a step further by challenging suggestions that the jerseys were being produced or supplied outside a valid contractual arrangement.
They said the agreement between Sandaland and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) was signed in 2023 and runs for five years, meaning it remains in force until 2028. Sandaland’s lawyers are relying partly on the principle of privity of contract, arguing that the agreement is between TFF and Sandaland and that a person who was not a party to the contract cannot unilaterally determine its validity.
‘This contract is still being implemented and remains valid because the year 2028 has not yet arrived,’ he said.
Nziku said jerseys that had been questioned had already been worn in various national-team competitions, including matches involving Tanzania’s women’s Under-20 side. He said the contract contained quality requirements and that final approval of the kits rested with TFF.