ZIFA Elections Dubbed One Of The Dirtiest In The World

Premier Service Medical Aid Society group chief executive officer Cuthbert Elkana Dube told Radio VOP that the ZIFA elections were fraught with gross irregularities and he was considering not to stand.

“ZIFA elections were one of the dirtiest elections in the world,” said Dube who lost the elections to incumbent president Wellington Nyatanga in 2004.”I have to seriously consider about standing because I have nothing to gain.”

“I have been approached by some football loving friends to stand in the elections but I am saying what has changed now. I lost elections dismally in 2004. I understand some of the councillors were booked into hotels and were given money.”

Dube, the founder of Premier Soccer League side Buymore, which he had sold to Caps Holdings and renamed Caps FC some three years ago, said the playing field was not level in the ZIFA elections.

Dube is touted as one of the best candidates for the ZIFA presidency. Other candidates who have thrown their hats into the elections are incumbent president Wellington Nyatanga, Harare City Council spokesperson Leslie Gwindi, Premier Soccer League chairman Tapiwa Matangaidze and former Caps United legend Charlie Jones as well as Francis Zimunya.

Meanwhile the Zimbabwe football family has a written a letter of protest to the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) over what they term as anomalies in the handling of the forthcoming ZIFA elections.

The SRC itself has confirmed receiving the letter and will convene a metting to look at the grievances highlighted.

SRC director general Charles Nhemachena confirmed he received the letter following Saturday’s hugely attended stakeholders meeting at Belgravia Sports Club. The meeting had a huge turnout following attendances from the Premier Soccer League, the Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association, the Zimbabwe Soccer Referees, the Five A Side Soccer League and the Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League.

Nhemachena said he was calling for a meeting of the SRC board to see how best they can resolve the problems before elections, the first for the ZIFA affiliates which have been set for the first week of February.

Initially pencilled for January 27, the ZIFA affiliates elections had to be postponed because of the problems which are highlighted in the protest letter to the SRC.

Sources revealed that the football family had resolved to reject ZIFA’s decision to use the 2008 constitution in the elections opting for the ammended 2009 constitution that gives new voting powers to the five a side soccer, the referees and the coaches and also gives an extra vote to women’s football.

If the 2008 constitution is used these football bodies will not be allowed to vote in the March ZIFA board elections and more importantly the board will remain with nine members instead of 13 as provided in the 2009 constitution.

The football family also agreed and had informed the SRC that they will resist all attempts by ZIFA to impose a $ 500 election fee saying this was not provided for in the constitution. They claimed this was a deliberate ploy to screen contestants.