mbulelo smpofu
Fungai Muderere, [email protected]
AMID growing concerns that some Zifa Executive Committee election candidates may gain an “unfair advantage” by also voting as members, Nyasha Samanyandwe, a legal practitioner and a key member of the Normalisation Committee (NC), has clarified that the current statutes do not explicitly prohibit this scenario.
This clarification comes in response to a wave of apprehension within the football community regarding the potential for conflict of interest and unequal playing fields during the upcoming elections.
The highly anticipated Zifa Executive Committee elections are set to take place in Harare today, drawing significant interest from various stakeholders. According to the new constitution, the Zifa Executive Committee will comprise 11 members: the president, two deputies (one of whom must be a woman), and eight board members. Six of these board members will be elected, while the Premier Soccer League and the Women’s Premier Soccer League will each second a candidate, bringing the total to 11 members.
“The whole preparations for the elections have been draining but we are almost done, and we are ready to go. Yes, the election candidates who are members will vote. If they vote, will one vote translate to a majority vote? As the electoral body, we didn’t interpret the statutes that way and gave independence within the members. The statutes are not clear on prohibiting a member from voting for him or herself.
There is nothing to stop them,” said Samanyandwe.
Zifa presidential aspirant Martin Kweza, Zifa board members Gilbert Saika, Tizirayi Luphahla, and Tavengwa Hara are some of the candidates who will enjoy the privilege to vote, let alone naturally cast votes for themselves. Four hopefuls, including Temba Mliswa, Farai Jere, Walter Magaya, and former Zimbabwe captain Benjani Mwaruwari, failed to make the final shortlist for tomorrow’s election. The quartet was dropped after failing to meet the eligibility criteria. This left six candidates in contention for the association’s hot seat: Kweza, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Twine Phiri, Philemon Machana, Marshall Gore, and Nqobile Magwizi.
The Zifa Normalisation Committee also announced 10 successful candidates to stand for the vice-presidency and 36 for ordinary board members. The positions to be contested tomorrow include the president, two vice presidents, and six ordinary board members.
Zifa recently suffered an almost two-year ban from Fifa following the revocation of the Felton Kamambo-led board by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC). After the censure was lifted, a normalisation committee, led by Lincoln Mutasa, was installed to clear the ground for the elections.
Zifa presidential candidates
Marshall Gore, Philemon Machana, Nqobile Magwizi, Martin Kweza, Twine Phiri, Makwinji Phiri
Vice president candidates
Mavis Gumbo,Patience Mutumwa, Winnet Murota, Joyce R Kapota, Loveness Mukura, Kennedy Ndebele, Omega Sibanda, Peter Dube,Francis Nyamutsamba, Simbarashe J Takavada
Ordinary members
Gilbert Saika, Sharif Mussa Umerjee, Thomas Marambanyika, NicholasMunyonga, Tavengwa Hara, Xolisani Gwesela, Bhekhimpilo Nyoni, Vincent Chawonza,Sween Mushonga, Lewis, Muzhara, Morden Ngwenya, Jerrymike Gumbo Alice Zeure, Alois Bunjira, Morgen Dube, Sabelo Maposa, Edward Mutukwa, Tizirayi Luphahla ,Sibekikwe Ndlovu, Tafadzwa Benza, Cecilia Gambe, Kudzai Kadzombe, Sunday Chidzambwa, Walter Musanhu, Brighton Ushendibaba, Admore Chivero, Terence T Malunga, Harlington Shereni, Cuthbert Chitima, Norman Matemera, Beaullar Msarah — @FungaiMuderere
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
