Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
H-Metro Editor
IT’S the most expensive ZIFA poll in history.
By the time the contest ends, and a winner is declared, it’s likely that more than US$1 million would have been spent on these elections.
Already thousands of dollars are being spent on the campaign, which involves more than 50 candidates, who have been travelling all over the country trying to woo the vote of the Councillors.
Then, there are the undeclared amounts which are given to some of these Councillors, disguised as compensation for their transport costs, when in reality it’s a bait, which some will call a bribe, to get their vote.
You also need to add the tens of thousands of dollars which are being spent on high-profile lawyers who have been dragged into these polls in the legal challenges which have arisen.
“The advocates cost a lot of money and it’s very clear that the candidates who have taken their cases to court are paying huge sums of money,” said a source.
“The FA are also paying a lot of money because they have been forced to also look for advocates to defend their cases.
“We have never had ZIFA elections which have played out in the courts like the one we are having right now.”
Then, there is also the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The election saga has spilled into the CAS corridors after Benjani Mwaruwari and Gift Banda lodged a joint appeal challenging their disqualification from the elections.
“You are looking at payments of about US$25 000 just for the case to be heard at CAS. It’s not a cheap process.”
ZIFA were given until today by CAS to show cause why Benjani and Banda’s appeal to have the poll postponed should not be granted.
The two are also challenging the decision to have them disqualified from the poll.
Benjani and Banda’s appeal for an extension to the time they can pay US$24 000 for their entire challenge to be heard was granted by CAS last week.
They have been given until January 30 to make the payment and, with the date falling after the date chosen by ZIFA for the elections to go ahead, it provides another twist to the saga.
One explanation could be that CAS are saying the polls can go ahead, and their challenge can be heard later, or that CAS are sure the polls will not go ahead on Saturday as planned.
