Moffat Mungazi
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THERE is an unwritten agreement among the four ZIFA regions that will see councillors based in the four constituencies voting for chosen candidates that are coming from the regions in a dirty bloc voting ploy that only serves to shove failed regional leaders into the national administration of the game of football, Post Spot can reveal.
In general, block or bloc voting refers to a class of electoral systems where multiple candidates are elected simultaneously and allow a group of voters (a voting bloc) to ensure that only their preferred candidates are elected.
With the guarantee of landslide triumph, this covert give and take arrangement will see, for example, a national ZIFA board aspirant coming from the Eastern Region getting easy votes from councillors from his or her region as well as the other three regions.
ZIFA councillors from the Eastern Region will then vote for chosen national ZIFA board aspirants from the other three regions in a brazen exchange of votes.
For example, the 17 ZIFA councillors based in the Eastern Region, comprising four from the ZIFA Eastern Region board, their three provincial chairpersons, four Premiership football clubs, three women football top-flight league clubs, area zone chairman, NAPH chairman and women league chairperson, are ALL expected to vote for their chosen candidate from the region, and also vote for chosen candidates from the other three regions.
In exchange, those in other regions, for example the Southern Region with about 20 voting councillors, will do the same, and technically that means those with regional backing will get into this election guaranteed of plus 50 votes.
The sickening ploy also exposes the so-called ZIFA councillors who can hardly make their own individual decisions on who to vote for the good of the game.
The trend, which has been perpetuated since way back, also evokes memories of the disappointing contents of ZIFA Restructuring Committee forensic audit report of 2023 which once noted the ineptness of councillors to make independent and informed choices, but just a bunch of individuals who are only excited to be “ . . . transported to the bright lights of the city, fed and lodged in comfortable accommodation with all its temptations — and paid per diems, were happy to cast their votes for their ‘blessers’ . . . ”.
Thus, it could be a foregone conclusion that, of the six required general ZIFA board members at the of the January election, four are highly likely coming from ZIFA regions, and only the other two will be accommodated either by luck or virtue. It must not be by accident that on the long list of candidates vying for different positions in the January 25 ZIFA election, there is Martin Kweza – the outgoing ZIFA Northern Region chairman who is gunning for the football governing body presidency, while his deputy, Sweeney Mushonga is also in the race for a slot in the board.
On the same list of candidates, there is also Davison Muchena – the outgoing ZIFA Eastern Region chairman, who is campaigning for a post as a board member in the national ZIFA board.
Tizirai Lupahla, the outgoing ZIFA Southern Region board member in charge of finance and Thomas Marambanyika, who is the outgoing ZIFA Central region board member, are both coming in the January election ostensibly as representatives of their region in this disgusting give and take arrangement.
A sitting councillor, who chose not to be named for fear of retribution, confided in Post Sport that this has been the trend over the years, and this year is no exception.
She said: “Yes, you are right! We have seen this happen over the years, and it is now a norm. If you go against the tide, you are sacrificed. It is a gravy train.”
The ZIFA Normalisation Committee acting as the ZIFA Electoral Committee in accordance with Article 85 (9) announced the names of all the candidates who have met the eligibility criteria stipulated in the ZIFA Statutes.
The presidential candidates are Marshall Gore, Philemon Machana, Nqobile Magwizi, Kweza, Twine Phiri and Makwinji Soma-Phiri.
The vice-president candidates include Mavis Gumbo, Patience Mutumwa, Winnet Murota, Joyce Kapota, Loveness Mukura, Kennedy Ndebele, Omega Sibanda, Peter Dube, Francis Nyamutsamba, Simbarashe Takava and Peter Dube.
Candidates for the ordinary members of the board include Gilbert Saika, Sharif Mussa Umerjee, Marambanyika, Nicholas Munyonga, Tavengwa Hara, Xolisani Gwesela, Bhekhimpilo Nyoni, Vincent Chawonza, Sween Mushonga, Lewis Muzhara, Morden Ngwenya, Jerrymike Gumbo, Alice Zeure, Alois Bunjira, Morgen Dube, Sabela Maposa, Edward Mutukwa, Luphahla, Sibekikwe Ndlovu, Tafadzwa Benza, Cecilia Gambe, Kudzai Kadzombe, Sunday Chidzambwa, Walter Musanhu, Desmond Ali, Simbarashe Ndoro, Francis Nyamutsamba, Muchena, Brighton Ushendibaba, Edmore Chivero, Terence Malunga, Harlington Shereni, Cuthbert Chitima, Norman Matemera and Beaullar Msarah.
