FIRSTSHOTSFIREDIN ZIFABATTLE

Tadious Manyepo

Zimpapers Sports Hub

THE first shots, in what promises to be a brutal and dirty phase of the ZIFA presidential race, have just been FIRED.

At this rate, it appears we are in for a ride like we have never seen before in this race for the most powerful seat in domestic football.

The candidates seem to be on an audacious bid to elbow each other out of the race before it even gets to the Councillors, who are expected to cast their votes on January 25.

The target, right now, is the process in which the credentials of those who want to occupy the post, are being vetted.

Those who would have passed the test will be known on December 23.

Up to 10 presidential aspirants have thrown their names into the hat and some individuals are now popping up to “object” the candidature of certain candidates.

So far, the objections have targeted Martin Kweza, Philemon Machana and Prophet Walter Magaya. A man called Terrence Pachirere yesterday wrote to the ZIFA Ethics and Integrity Committee objecting to the nomination of Kweza.

He accuses him of having some legal issues at his workplace which doesn’t make him a suitable candidate for the job.

Another man, A.K. Mugadzaweta, is requesting an investigation into some alleged “financial misconduct” by Machana.

He sent a letter Friday, to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission raising a litany of allegations against Machana.

He claims the crimes were committed when he was still part of the ZIFA board between December 2018 and November 2021.

He claims the decision to move thousands of dollars from FIFA into Machana’s personal account, which the then ZIFA board claimed was meant to ring fence the fans against debtors, should disqualify him from the poll.

Magaya’s nomination is also being objected to by someone called M. Chigwedere who says the PHD leader was once convicted and has other cases before the courts.

ZIFA Normalisation Committee’s legal chief, Nyasha Sanyamandwe, in laying out the foundation for the elections, said they will follow the ZIFA Disciplinary and Ethics Code,

“The Ethics Code will guide us but we also need to be guided by Art: 24 Para 8 of the ZIFA Statutes, which talk about the bodies of ZIFA and how they need not to be convicted of offences compatible with the positions that they are running for.

“So, we will look into those offences and, also in our criminal jurisprudence, we know there are minor and major offences, a road traffic accident surely will not stop someone from running for the election.

“So, the Ethics Committee will as well assist us in completing that eligibility test for criminal offences or interpreting the Ethics Code.” Other ZIFA presidential aspirants include Nqobile Magwizi, Themba Mliswa, Benjani Mwaruwari, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Twine Phiri, Martial Gore and Farai Jere.