WITH the date of submission of nomination papers for the Zifa elections set for next month having lapsed on Wednesday, the electoral committee is expected to have started the process of meticulously vetting the candidates.
And in 10 days’ time, on December 23, aspiring candidates will know their fate.
Aspiring candidates had until Wednesday to file their nomination papers, the initial stage in the election process.
And two days before Christmas, the nominees for the posts of president and his two deputies and six board members will be made aware of the resolutions of the electoral committee regarding their eligibility to contest the elections.
The other post for the vice-presidency is reserved for women.
Key among the requirements to contest in the election is that candidates should be aged at least 40 years to be eligible for the presidency and should possess at least five Ordinary Level passes, including English Language.
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Candidates should also have been ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe for the past two years, a clause that might see some nominees crashing out of the race.
Candidates should also satisfy the electoral committee that they have not been convicted or sentenced for any criminal offence in the past.
The names of the candidates who will sail through the vetting process will be made public on January 15, the same day the names of delegates attending the elective congress on January 25 will be confirmed.
Walter Magaya, the owner of Yadah Stars, business executive Nqobile Magwizi, former Premier Soccer League chairman Twine Phiri and current chairperson Farai Jere are some of the candidates eyeing the presidency.
Other candidates are politician Temba Mliswa, Zifa Northern Region chairperson Martin Kweza, former Zifa board member Philemon Machana and United Kingdom-based Marshal Gore.
Entrepreneur Gilbert Muponda withdrew from the race and threw his weight behind Magwizi.
Magwizi and Mliswa’s eligibility have been questioned since they expressed interest in contesting.
It will be interesting to discover if they will pass the litmus test, particularly whether they have been in Zifa structures in the last five years.
Magwizi is employed by Sakunda, who sponsor Dynamos and Highlanders, but that part does not qualify him to contest the post of president.
His CV suggests that he is a board member of Banket United.
Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele is eyeing the vice-presidency and will have to slug it out with former Zifa vice-presidents Omega Sibanda and Gift Banda, who are also said to have submitted their papers.
Highlanders board member Peter Dube is also in the race, together with former club vice-chairperson Modern Ngwenya for the Zifa vice-presidency men’s quota.
Ngezi Platinum Stars chief executive officer Nyasha Kadenge, former Zifa board member Mavis Gumbo, Loveness Mukura, ex-Caps United administrator Joyce Kapota, Patience Mutumwa and Winnet Muropa are up for the women’s quota vice-presidency.
Close to 40 candidates intend to fill the board members’ posts and among them are veteran football administrator Francis Zimunya, Chicken Inn secretary Tavengwa Hara, former Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela, ex-Warriors manager Shariff Musa and former Zifa Southern Region chairperson Andrew Tapela.
Other candidates for the posts are Sweeny Mushonga, Admore Chivero, Morgen Dube, former Harare deputy mayor Kudzai Kadzombe, Desmond Ali, Tizirayi Luphahla, former Warriors doctor Nicholas Munyonga, football team Gunners founder Cuthbert Chitima, Alois Bunjira, Masimba Chihowa, Sibekiwe Ndlovu, Cecilia Gambi, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Harlington Shereni and Blessing Mpande, among others.