Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Langton Nyakwenda
Zifa Electoral Committee chairperson, Lincoln Mutasa, says his committee is not inventing new rules but is merely “trying to stick to the book.”
This comes after the committee announced that four candidates vying for the Zifa presidency had failed an integrity test conducted by the Ethics and Integrity Committee that was chaired by former Harare Mayor, Muchadeyi Masunda.
Farai Jere, Walter Magaya, Themba Mliswa and Benjani Mwaruwari were excluded from the final field that was announced on Monday.
Jere yesterday backed down from appealing against the decision, saying football had to be the winner.
Jere, whose O-Level certificate bears the name Farai Mutimbo, submitted documents that support his name change on Monday morning but the Zifa Electoral Committee said his submission was late hence his exclusion from the final list of candidates vying for the presidency.
The Electoral Committee advised Jere of his fate on Monday evening and the CAPS United owner immediately wrote back, questioning this decision.
“We have not invented the rules and regulations. As the Electoral Committee, we are just following what the Zifa Congress wants,” Mutasa told Zimpapers Sports Hub yesterday.
“We are implementing the rules given to us by the Congress regarding a lot of issues including the issue of 5 O-Levels.
“We are trying to stick to the book,” added Mutasa.
Jere was excluded on educational grounds, but the charismatic football administrator passed his Ordinary Levels using the surname Mutimbo, which was later changed to Jere in 2000.
In a letter addressed to Jere on Monday, the Zifa Electoral Committee chairperson outlined the reason why the CAPS United owner had failed to meet the criteria.
“Specifically, this pertains to the late submission of your name change on the O and A-Level certificates.
“We understand that this news may be disappointing.
“The integrity checks are a crucial part of our commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct within our organisation.
“This process is essential for fostering trust and transparency in our operations and ensuring that all candidates meet the rigorous standards expected by the football community,” wrote Mutasa.
The veteran administrator has encouraged those affected to exercise their right and appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as espoused in Article 85(9) of the Zifa constitution.
However, Jere has decided against pursuing this route despite earlier writing to the Electoral Committee questioning his exclusion.
In that letter, Jere had also explained his situation.
“I wish to bring to your attention and emphasise that earlier today (Monday), at approximately 08:45 am, I submitted my birth certificate and the 2002 Government Gazette reflecting my name change, which was legally processed by Manasa and Manasa Legal Practitioners.
“This was done to ensure all my nomination documentation is accurate and complete, as my O and A-Level certificates submitted contain my former surname, Mutimbo, whereas my University First Degree and Masters of Business Administration transcripts contain the surname Jere,” he said.
But the Premier Soccer League chairperson, Farai Jere, has decided to let football be the winner after accepting the decision of the Zifa Ethics Committee to bar him from contesting the January 25 Executive Committee elections.
“I got the response this morning. Zifa explained to me that I submitted my notice of name change late when the Fifa governance body had already concluded the vetting process,” said Jere.
“Before 2000, I used the name Farai Mutimbo and all my Ordinary and Advanced Level certificates bear that name.
“Then I officially changed to Farai Jere in 2000 and my tertiary qualifications have that name, so the clarity came, but I was disappointed that they could have requested the notice in time and I could also be contested, but remember, everything happens for a reason,” he said.
Added Jere: “I am a leader so I have to make decisions not just for myself. I want football to be the winner, not Jere.
“So if I appeal, it means that it’s an emergency interdict to stop the elections until my case is heard.
“My case is simple and I can easily win it, but the time that it will take means I will delay the elections, so is that good for our football?
“I am a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sports chairperson, so I can’t be seen delaying the elections. Zimbabwean football needs to heal and move forward to start afresh with new leadership, so I am allowing that to happen because football must come first and football must be the winner.”
The other three candidates have since been furnished with explanations on why they have been barred from contesting.
Six candidates including business executive Nqobile Magwizi, Northern Region chairperson Martin Kweza, former Zifa board member Philemon Machana, Team Zimbabwe UK CEO Marshal Gore, former PSL chairperson Twine Phiri and former footballer Makwinji Phiri will battle it out for the Zifa presidency on January 25.
There are exactly 30 days before Zifa holds the much awaited elections, and this could turn out to be a very long month.
Former national team skipper, Mwaruwari, yesterday wrote to the Zifa Electoral Committee through his lawyers.
“Our client has noted with grave concern that his name does not appear on the list referred to above notwithstanding the fact that he strongly feels that he is suitably qualified and meets the criteria to stand for election in the forthcoming elections as Zifa president.
“Our client is perturbed by the fact that he wasn’t formally served with any letter stating the full reasons why your committee has by interpretation of the omission of his name on your published list, declaring him not suitable to hold office as Zifa president.”
Former Norton Member of Parliament Mliswa has also indicated that he might challenge the decision to exclude him from the successful candidates.
The positions to be contested for on January 25 include the president, two vice presidents, of which one must be a woman and six ordinary board members.
The vetting process, through which all the aspiring candidates were subjected to an eligibility test, was done by a Zifa Ethics Committee led by renowned legal practitioner, Masunda.
