The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda and Don Makanyanga
IT HAS been a hectic couple of weeks for the six candidates who are vying for the four places on the Zifa Board.
A close contest is expected when the election process is set in motion at the Zifa Village today, as Sugar Chagonda, Philemon Machana, Chamu Chiwanza, Mlungisi Moyo, Stanley Chapeta and Brighton Malandule slug it out in what promises to be an exciting poll.
The Sunday Mail Sport caught up with the candidates on the eve of the election and this is what they said:
Mlungisi Moyo, former Chicken Inn treasurer and a holder of three masters’ degrees, including one in financial engineering
“There’s need to have a financial management policy that speaks to accountability, transparency and respect for systems.
“Serious corporate partners should be allowed to do business with football and Zifa should not settle for personalised support from individuals and entities. Zifa’s revenue streams would need to be widened through enlisting the services of professional revenue consultants.
“I shall be a gatekeeper for corporate governance as Zifa should seize operating like a tuckshop. Also, there has to be a levy structure that does not bleed the clubs and organs dry and as such, the finance committee would come up with realistic levy structures.
“Emphasis and priority should also be given to women’s football and engaging Fifa to help come up with a strategic plan for Fifa Forward Development Programmes is also top on the list.”
Sugar Chagonda, secretary at newly promoted Manica Diamonds and public relations and community development manager at Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company
“There’s need to create a vibrant business out of football, but to achieve this the Zifa Board should have people with a corporate culture.
“Zifa needs restructuring, the football mother body should be running viable projects and not this norm of always going to Government with a begging bowl whenever the national teams are going for assignments.
“I have a Masters degree in Public Policy and Governance; that should tell you how I value the importance of corporate governance. Our success at Manica Diamonds Football Club is testimony of the sound football structures we have put in place.
“Being a former employee of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, I have established international contacts which I can use to develop football.
“Remember, I was instrumental in bringing of Brazil to Zimbabwe in 2010, before we also brought in the Barcelona legends. Allow me to use those contacts to uplift our game, it’s now time to make football a big industry that can even contribute to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
“Football needs corporate people because they understand what the corporate world wants.”
Chamu Chiwanza, businessman and Chiyangwa’s top ally
“I will talk to the media after the elections, now is time for work. Whether I win or lose, I will only talk to you guys after the elections.”
Philemon Machana, businessman and incumbent board member (finance)
“When I came into office, Zifa’s accounts were in shambles, there was total chaos with no audited accounts from 2011-2015 and Fifa had stopped funding the football mother body.
“Zifa was not in good standing, the association had a ballooning debt and the national team had been suspended from participating in the World Cup qualifiers because of debts owed to Valinhos and Tom Saintfiet.
“There was plunder of resources at Zifa, the employees were not paid and there was no work culture. We changed all that. Every year we have been producing audited accounts and we can now access Fifa funds.
“A lot of things have been said about how I have handled the finances, all that is a big lie. I have got nothing to hide, Fifa representatives will be there on Sunday (today), they will confirm if they have been depositing money into Machana’s personal account.
“Fifa does central audits regularly and the reason why Zifa continues to access funds is because we are doing everything above board.
“I hope the councillors will vote for continuity, I now have more experience in dealing with Zifa’s finances so I would want to discourage them from voting for someone who will come and start learning, make mistakes and learn again.”
Brighton Malandule, a former top-flight referee who is now chief financial officer with a local Non-Governmental
Organisation
“As a former referee and public listed accountant, I have a lot to offer to the board. I believe Zifa is a big organisation which should be run professionally and according to the constitution.
“I have been involved with players, coaches and referees. I know what they want while at the same time my professional background will help to steer the Zifa board to where it is supposed to be.
“Football has now become a business, hence Zifa should be run as a business that adheres to business ethics.
“I am offering accountability and transparency in terms of administration, where we will abide by the constitution.”
Stanley Chapeta, Central region chairperson with over 29 years’ experience in mainstream football administration
“I have a six-point plan to transform Zimbabwean football, which includes addressing the issue of constitutionalism, good governance, transparency, unity among the stakeholders hence leading to development which at the end transforms our football,” said Chapeta.
