mbulelo smpofu
Lovemore Dube
THE Zifa Ethics and Integrity Committee, which has been working with the Normalisation Committee (NC) is expected to end weeks of speculation as to who will be in the race for Zifa Board positions for next year’s elections.
The elections will be held on 25 January and will see the NC’s term come to an end allowing a substantive body elected by councillors to take over the running of the game.
Zifa has had no substantive board since the firing of the Felton Kamambo board on 23 April 2022 and Gift Banda, who had acted in that position, only lasted up to 11 July last year when he was replaced by Lincoln Mutasa’s NC.
In July, Fifa extended the terms of just three NC members, chairman Mutasa, legal mind Nyasha Samanyandwe and women’s football legend, Rosemary Mugadza.
Cynthia Malaba, who was in charge of the finance portfolio’s brief ended because she had completed setting up structures and policies with Sikhumbuzo Ndebele walking out after ensuring that the positions of technical director and head of coach education were filled.
Fifa were very explicit, giving Mutasa the mandate to ensure elections are held on 25 January to usher in a new executive.
The roadmap involved having an annual general meeting on 22 November at which the draft constitution was adopted and elections are being held within its confines, with the president and his male deputy expected to hold a minimum of O-level qualification.
After that meeting, 4 December opened the nomination process, with 11 December as the closing date.
Zifa set 23 December as the date on which candidates who would have undergone a stringent integrity and ethics inspection would be allowed to stand as candidates. The process entailed checking with schools, education boards home and away and police clearances too.
When the list is finally published, candidates are expected to officially start campaigning in earnest ahead of the final confirmations set for 15 January next year.
Zimbabwe has lacked a clear-cut development plan despite successes where national teams have been regional champions and qualified for events such as the continental championships and Olympics.
The new Zifa board is expected to prioritise national grassroots development, disburse Fifa grants to provinces and regions, support grassroots development of beach five-a-side and women’s soccer.
In the past, the national governing body has spent all its funds, leaving provinces, regions and other affiliates to finance their own activities. Even funding for the development of coaches and referees has led to individuals paying hefty fees to obtain their badges, instead of the national governing body subsidising participants, especially since there is available funding from Fifa.
The list of candidates has made some exciting reading and provided pub talk subjects.
Business executive, Nqobile Magwizi leads a list that has football legend Benjani Mwaruwari, Farai Jere, Marshall Gore, Martin Kweza, Twine Phiri, Philemon Machana, Temba Mliswa and Makwinji Soma-Phiri.
Magwizi comes as a straight-jacket candidate without the toxic football politics as he has been mostly involved at the higher level in the game dealing with executives at Dynamos, Highlanders and Banket.
History may be made should Soma-Phiri or Mwaruwari land the post. Their knowledge of the game and growth in business and the sport after retiring could be handy and have not been involved in local football’s fights.
Gore’s Team UK initiative has drawn mixed feelings while Machana, Phiri and Jere are not new comers to the game’s administration at the top level. Kweza has been acting chairman for the Northern Region.
Favourite for the vice-presidency, Gift Banda could face Peter Dube, Kennedy Ndebele, Omega Sibanda and James Takavada.
Takavada, a former Soccer Star of the Year winner brings with him football experience running into 40 years, Sibanda once held the post and had club management feel of things at Highlanders.
Dube is a former PSL chairman, who like the elite league’s chief executive officer Ndebele, enjoyed success at Highlanders as secretary and chairman.
All five candidates for the vice-presidency have an appreciation of the national football landscape and what has to be done.
The new constitution provides for a female vice-president and in the yet-to-be-confirmed candidate’s list are Loveness Mukura, Mavis Gumbo, Joyce Kapota, Patience Mutumwa, Winnet Muropa and Beaullah Msara.
A number of former players — Bekhimpilo Nyoni of the coaches association, Francis Zimunya, Morgen Dube, Harrington Shereni, the legendary Sunday Chidzambwa and Alois Bunjira — have also expressed their intentions to serve and save Zimbabwean football..
Dube is the Highlanders secretary and former Zifa Southern Region vice-chairman.
Former Zifa Southern Region boss, Andrew Tapela, has expressed his intention to run for a board role as a member among several other football administrators who have been at the helm of clubs, provinces and regions in recent times. These include Cuthbert Chitima, Gilbert Saika, Modern Ngwenya, Sweeney Mushonga, Davison Muchena, women’s soccer advocate and promoter Sibekiwe Ndlovu, Thomas Marambanyika, Norman Matemera, Simba Ndoro who owns Simba Bhora, Cecilia Gambe, women’s soccer and junior development sponsor Lewis Muzhara and Joseph Musaririri are all vying for the six board roles.
