THE Zifa Normalisation Committee is confident that the executive committee elections set for January 25 will go ahead as scheduled despite appeals by some disqualified candidates at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as well as the High Court of Zimbabwe.
Zifa confirmed that Walter Magaya filed a High Court application while Temba Mliswa also announced that he had filed his own at the same court.
The association said former Warriors striker Benjani Mwaruwari and Gift Banda had made CAS applications after being struck off the election roaster for lack of requisite five O Levels or equivalent.
Mwaruwari, Magaya, Farai Jere, Mliswa, Bernard Gwarada and Banda were all disqualified from the election after failing to meet some of the requirements.
"The Zifa Normalisation Committee acting as the Zifa Electoral Committee has acknowledged receipt of Walter Magaya's court application for review filed with the High Court of Zimbabwe following his ineligibility to run for Zifa presidency which was communicated on the 23rd of December 2024," Zifa said in a statement.
Zifa, expressed reservations over Magaya's move while praising Mwaruwari for approaching CAS instead.
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It is the High Court applications that have left the election in danger of being stopped.
"In response Zifa electoral committee stipulates that Magaya's actions of approaching local courts is ultra vires Zifa statutes, albeit it being an application for review — it does not address any procedural irregularities but substantive issues which should have been taken at the level of CAS in accordance with Zifa statutes.
"However, we applaud Benjani and Gift Banda on their willingness to comply with Zifa statutes and procedurally challenge their ineligibility at CAS and we are co-operative in our approach and will ensure the process remains as transparent as possible and will respect the CAS verdict when it comes.
"We are working closely with our external counsel to ensure we respond within the stipulated dies inducia of two days and will be following closely the CAS proceeding."
Zifa acknowledged receipt of Mwaruwari and Banda's applications.
The association will respond within the stipulated time frame, it said.
However, CAS processes take long and the case drags until after the election has been conducted.
"For the avoidance of doubt, we received the CAS application on Monday afternoon the 6th of January 2025. As it stands the elections will proceed as scheduled. The electoral committee is committed to conduct the elections in a free, transparent and orderly manner."
Zifa, however declined to release the contents of Magaya's application only preferring to share their own statement.
They made no mention of Mliswa's application, which he confirmed on social media.
Mliswa argues that the constitution making process was flawed and wants the election to be stopped.
He too did not share much on his application, but shared pictures of part of the application stamped by the High Court.
Mliswa is also said to have been stopped from contesting because he does not possess the requisite five O Levels.
Candidates who were allowed to contest for the post of president include Northern Region Division One Soccer League chairperson Martin Kweza, former Premier Soccer League boss Twine Phiri, Marshall Gore, former Zifa board member Philemon Machana, Makwinji Soma Phiri and businessman Nqobile Magwizi.
For the post of vice-president, Banda wants to contest against former Zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda, Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele, Peter Dube, Francis Nyamutsamba and James Takavada.
There are 38 candidates vying for six ordinary board member posts.