HARARE — PHD Ministries chief Walter Magaya, outgoing Premier Soccer League chairman Farai Jere, former Warriors’ icon Benjani Mwaruwari, and ex-Norton MP Temba Mliswa confronted humiliation on Monday after failing a ZIFA integrity check, intensifying the drama within the race for Zimbabwe’s soccer management.
The disqualifications adopted a rigorous screening led by a committee chaired by revered former Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda.
The ZIFA Normalisation Committee launched the ultimate checklist of eligible candidates, narrowing the presidential race to 6 contenders: Marshall Gore, Philemon Machana, Nqobile Magwizi, Martin Kweza, Twine Phiri, and Makwinje Phiri.
“The ZIFA Normalisation Committee acting as the ZIFA Electoral Committee in accordance with Article 85(9) is pleased to announce the names of all the candidates who have met the eligibility criteria stipulated in the ZIFA Statutes, 2024,” the committee stated in a press release, including that no press convention can be held to elaborate additional.
The race has been dogged by allegations of felony misconduct. Formal complaints had been lodged by Terrance Pachirere, MJ Chigwedere, and Ok. Mugadzaweta towards Kweza, Magaya, and Machana, citing moral and felony considerations.
While Machana handed the integrity check, Magaya, Mliswa, and Jere had been discovered wanting.
Chigwedere alleged that Magaya confronted unresolved authorized points, together with a pending trial for tax violations beneath Zimbabwe’s Income Tax Act in January 2024, and a earlier conviction for breaching the Medicines Control Act in 2018. Magaya’s camp dismissed the allegations as a smear marketing campaign, however his prior conviction and questions over whether or not he holds the required 5 Ordinary Level passes possible led to his disqualification.
Insiders revealed Magaya had spent tens of hundreds of {dollars} on his marketing campaign, together with providing councillors incentives, just for his efforts to break down earlier than the election.
There had been additionally allegations that Farai Jere didn’t possess the requisite 5 Ordinary Level passes required to face for the ZIFA presidency. However, this might not be confirmed, because the Masunda committee didn’t disclose particular particulars relating to any candidate’s disqualification.
Temba Mliswa fell by the wayside after his candidacy was contested by one, A. Kufa who cited Mliswa’s 2010 conviction for assault and his historical past of alleged disruptive habits, arguing that it violated Article 38.6 of the ZIFA Statutes, which bars candidates with felony data.
Kufa referred to as Mliswa’s monitor report inconsistent with the integrity wanted to steer Zimbabwe’s soccer governing physique.
Meanwhile, the Masunda-led committee cleared a number of candidates who handed the integrity check. The checklist consists of Vice Presidential candidates: Mavis Gumbo, Patience Mutumwa, Winnet Murota, Joyce R Kapota, Loveness Mukura, Kennedy Ndebele, Omega Sibanda, Peter Dube, Francis Nyamutsamba, and Simbarashe J Takava.
Ordinary Member candidates embody Gilbert Saika, Sharif Mussa, Umerjee Thomas, Marambanyika Nicholas, Munyonga Tavengwa, Hara Xolisani, Gwesela Bhekhimpilo, Nyoni Vincent, Chawonza Sween, Mushonga Lewis, Muzhara Morden, Ngwenya Jerrymike, Gumbo Alice, Zeure Alois, Bunjaira Morgen, Dube Sabela, Maposa Edward, Mutukwa Tizirayi, Luphahla Sibekikwe, Ndlovu Tafadzwa, Benza Cecilia, Gambwe Kudzai, Kadzombe Sunday, Chidzambwa Walter, Musanhu Desmond, Ali Simbarashe, Ndoro Makwinje, Phiri Francis, Nyamutsamba Davison, Muchena Brighton, Ushendibaba Edmore, Chivero Terence, Malunga T, Shereni Harlington, Chitima Cuthbert C, Matemera Norman, and Msarah Beaullar.
