Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
The run-in to the eagerly anticipated ZIFA Executive committee elections is fast turning into a soap opera after three more candidates, businessman Nqobile Magwizi, former legislator Themba Mliswa and former PSL Chairperson Twine Phiri saw their candidature being questioned after private individuals wrote to the Ethics Committee questioning their eligibility.
This comes a few days after Yadah FC Owner, Prophet Walter Magaya, Northern Region Chairperson Martin Kweza and former ZIFA board-member Philemon Machana faced the same scrutiny.
It is again the same modus operandi which has been used with letters being written to the ZIFA Ethics committee questioning if the trio of Magwizi, Mliswa and Phiri is suitable for the top post.
Sports Analyst Malvern Moyo has described the current situation as ‘electioneering.’
“It’s ’s very interesting times ahead of us. 25 January is proving too far, but coming to the issue at hand this is definitely what I can call electioneering with some candidates trying to get others out of the way. Of you look at the letters it looks like it’s the work of one person who hasn’t done their homework well because some of the allegations have no standing while others have already been cleared of those things , its elections season so you can expect anything,” he said.
Some of the candidates vying for the ZIFA presidential seat include Marshal Gore of Team Zimbabwe UK, former Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari and PSL chairperson Farai Jere.
Article 38 paragraph 6 of the new ZIFA Statutes state that “all members of the Executive Committee shall not have been previously convicted or sentenced of any offence.”
The ZIFA Ethics committee is currently vetting the eligibility and integrity of candidates before announcing the successful candidates on the 23rd of this month.
The elections are set for the 25th of January next year.
