Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA’s transformation into a viable, united and professional football entity appears to be finally imminent, if sentiments by some of the association’s aspiring presidents are anything to go by.
The January 2025 polls to choose the next substantive ZIFA president after Felton Kamambo have captured the imagination, with campaigning expected to go into overdrive soon after the New Year holidays.
Such has been the wave of excitement and interest around the ZIFA elections that even neutrals keenly followed the December 23 announcement by the Normalisation Committee of the final list of candidates who had passed the ethics and integrity eligibility test.
On that day, four other aspirants — Benjani Mwaruwari, Temba Mliswa, Walter Magaya and Farai Jere — fell by the wayside from the race for the ZIFA presidency.
But Marshall Gore, Martin Kweza, Twine Phiri, Makwinji Phiri, Nqobile Magwizi and Philemon Machana passed the test.
All the six presidential candidates have hinted to Zimpapers Sports Hub that they would unveil their manifestos and move their campaigns a gear up soon after the festive holidays.
But if initial sentiments and visions from the candidates are a major indicator, then a new and better ZIFA looks to be in the offing should any of them prevail on election day in Harare on January 25.
Magwizi, whose vast business experience and local and international network anchors his vision, has made a bold statement of his intentions to turn ZIFA into a successful institution with standard corporate governance tenets.
Just like Machana, who has been preaching unity as he seeks to bounce back into ZIFA, Magwizi also intends to bring together all the game’s stakeholders to end hostilities that have often pegged back the national game.
Magwizi says he will not have any difficulties in building a ZIFA that adheres to proper governance frameworks “as well as proper audits that we will adhere to”.
He also appeared on ZTN Prime’s news bulletin on Friday evening and outlined part of the vision that is captured in his manifesto.
“Corporate governance is the backbone of any successful institution. It is, therefore, important that we strengthen the institution of ZIFA,” he said.
“It will be important for us to have clear roles for the board members and the secretariat. When this is done, we also capacitate the board and the secretariat through training.
“They (board members and secretariat) have to operate at the highest level possible with global standards.”
The corporate business guru is worried about local football’s toxicity and wants to hold a meeting of all stakeholders once elected into office.
“Why toxicity prevails is because people don’t have the desire to come together and engage on things they have different views on,” he said.
“It is my plan that we will have an all-stakeholder engagement where we come together and look at the plans for Zimbabwean football going forward . . .
“If we are able to do that, we will be able to agree on what works and what does not work.”
He added: “Drawing from my extensive experience in business and sports development, while leveraging my track record in governance, sponsorship negotiations and grassroots initiatives, we can transform ZIFA.
“I am also looking at harnessing international relationships and partnerships to unlock new opportunities for Zimbabwean football.
“Together, we can rebuild our game and position Zimbabwean football as a powerhouse in the region and beyond. It is not too late for us to unite and transform our game for posterity.
“Let us work together to create a legacy of excellence that will inspire future generations. We are our own liberators, and the time to act is now.”
Machana, speaking for the first time since he passed the eligibility test, revealed his relief at satisfying the requirements of the Muchadeyi Masunda-led Ethics and Integrity Committee and those of the Normalisation Committee, sitting as the Electoral Committee.
He said he was humbled and felt honoured to be among the six candidates whose names will be on the ballot papers.
The Harare businessman, who served in the two previous ZIFA executive committees (under Philip Chiyangwa and Kamambo), as board member (finance), feels he has seen enough to know the negative impact of a fractured association.
It is against this background that he wants the future of ZIFA to be grounded on the unity of all the game’s stakeholders.
“To colleagues who did not make it, I would like to say all is not lost. We remain football people together,” said Machana.
“The fact that someone has put their name and raised their hand, I think for me is primary testimony that they want football to grow and that they want to help football.
“So, obviously, the next step to do if I make it for the presidency is that I will not ignore such people.
“Every person who put their name, even those who did not make it in the first stage and even those who will not make it past the last hurdle, all these people have shown that they want to work for football and we must not leave them behind.”
Machana believes the fact that he passed the integrity test will now clear the air over his past.
“This put paid to all the malicious allegations that have been previously labelled on my person,” he said. “I believe going forward, this has sort of cleared the air and reasserts my being clean and my being a football person and someone with a clean record and a clean past.
“This also reinforces what I have always said defines me as a professional and as a person.
“That is the ethos of good governance, accountability and transparency.”
Machana reiterated his call for unity.
“As shall be seen during my campaign and when my manifesto comes out, I am putting as a main talking point that the elephant in the room in our football is nothing but a lack of unity,” he said.
“Unifying all stakeholders in football is my major task and that is my message during this election over and above the other specific ethos that I shall be talking about.
“My experience during my time in ZIFA puts me at an advantage, a vantage position to know what football needs and what we need to succeed.”
Kweza, Twine Phiri and Gore also spoke earlier last week to Zimpapers Sports Hub about their joy at being certified fit to contest the elections and what they are looking forward to do for the game.
“I am truly grateful for all the messages of support and prayers; they have been an incredible source of encouragement. A heartfelt thank you also goes to the stakeholders who supported our nomination and made this possible.
“As we move closer to the election date, the journey ahead calls for even greater collaboration and support,” Gore said.
Former CAPS United owner Twine Phiri spoke about a collaborative approach to resolving ZIFA’s problems.
“I also acknowledge and congratulate the other contestants who have been accepted. I recognise and appreciate the other contestants who were not approved and urge them to continue being powerful forces for the good of our football.
“We must commit to fostering unity, integrity and progress within our football community,’’ Phiri said.
Kweza said his campaign would get off to a flying start soon after the holidays.
“We would want to hit the ground running and make sure that we engage the people who matter most at this stage,” he said.
“I am so happy to have been cleared by the Ethics Committee. Before that, it was a hectic period. There was a lot that was happening, the mudslinging and all.
“But it’s now behind us. It happens during an election time, but we are already past that. We are now focusing on the next phase, which is the campaign.
“For now, we are just resting a bit because of Christmas, so that we re-energise and also give everyone time to be with their families.
“And then, after that, we start a proper campaign and engage the people who matter, who are the councillors, the ZIFA Congress members and solicit for votes. Hopefully, they’ll like what I’m selling to them and vote for me on the 25th of January.”
Repeated efforts to get a comment from former Dynamos striker Makwinji Phiri did not yield results.
