Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE was an aura of newness and revived hope within the room when ZIFA Electoral Committee chairperson Lincoln Mutasa stood up to announce the new president of the national football association.
That was at 1.16pm in the Jacaranda Room at Rainbow Towers yesterday.
Zimbabwe football has a new president in the name of Nqobile Magwizi, Mutasa announced, amid thunderous applause.
Magwizi won the race for the ZIFA presidency by a huge margin.
It was a landslide victory that has never been seen before in the history of ZIFA elections. Magwizi polled 61 of the 72 valid votes, which translated to a massive 85 percent of the vote.
Of the 77 votes, four were spoiled while one got disqualified.
Philemon Machana was a distant second with six votes, two more than Twine Phiri, while Marshall Gore polled one vote.
Former Highlanders and Dynamos striker Makwinji Soma-Phiri failed to get a single vote.
At exactly 4pm, Magwizi took his place at the high table before delivering his acceptance speech.
He promised to bring back unity in Zimbabwean football before declaring the beginning of a new era.
“We have put in place a good team, and this marks the beginning of a new era in Zimbabwe football,” said Magwizi.
“We had Covid-19, then the FIFA ban, then came the NC (Normalisation Committee), which did its work.
“But the Executive Committee has now been elected and business can now start.
“I believe we are 20 years behind; we need to do a lot of things to correct the situation.”
The new president has to hit the ground running starting by attending the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations draw in Morocco tomorrow.
Magwizi was immediately invited to attend the function by CAF president Patrice Motsepe, whose message was delivered by FIFA consultant and former Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu Manda.
The other delegates included FIFA senior member association governance services manager Ahmed Harraz; CAF director member associations Sarah Mukuna; and Nadim Magdy, the legal counsel at CAF.
“We have to make ZIFA an institution that can deliver, rebuild trust and bring in partners.
“Ecobank have expressed interest in working with us. They could offer us offices to use while we renovate ours,” he added.
“We have a commitment to make sure that we do well at the AFCON finals and that is our litmus test, so we need to hit the ground running and make sure we do well.”
Zimbabwe qualified for the AFCON finals without a home ground, as the country has no CAF-certified stadium.
Renovations at the National Sports Stadium are at an advanced stage.
“It’s embarrassing to play outside the country,” said Magwizi.
He is hopeful the Warriors will soon enjoy home advantage.
Zimbabwe resume their World Cup qualifying campaign in March with two matches against Benin (home) and Nigeria (away).
The new ZIFA president promised to work in harmony with the rest of his team.
Former Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele was elected vice president.
Herentals Queens chairperson Loveness Mukura is the woman vice president.
Tafadzwa Benza, Thomas Marambanyika, Davison Muchena, Kudzai Kadzombe, Alice Zeure and Brighton Ushendibaba were elected into the new ZIFA board.
Magwizi becomes the latest president after Felton Kamambo, who led ZIFA between 2018 and 2022, when the country was suspended from FIFA.
“I am very delighted we are at this stage,” said Magwizi.
“Where we err, please tell us.
“You have a right to express your opinions so that we can rally behind one common purpose.”
The process started with an annual general meeting.
The mood was pensive as ZIFA Normalisation Committee lawyer Nyasha Sanyamandwe read out the voting procedure.
In the end, some of the big names fell by the wayside. The likes of Sweeney Mushonga, Cuthbert Chitima, Gilbert Saika, Mavis Gumbo and Andrew Tapela could not make it.
Weston Jemwa of Triangle was caught taking pictures of his ballot paper during the presidential poll. His presidential vote was subsequently declared invalid.
He was, however, allowed to vote in the rest of the polls.
