The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
The Zifa elections took a shocking turn yesterday when former chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze endorsed the candidature of Phillip Chiyangwa’s ally.
Mashingaidze’s seal of approval on Chamu Chiwanza’s candidature came on a day the iconic Zifa life member Cornelius Bwanya also threw his weight behind the Harare businessman. There is no love lost between Mashingaidze and Chiyangwa, who is Chiwanza’s close ally.
Chiwanza is vying for one of the four Zifa board positions in next Sunday’s elections and will battle it out against Manica Diamonds FC secretary Sugar Chagonda, Central Region chairman Stanley Chapeta, former referee Brighton Malandule and incumbent board member-finance Philemon Machana.
Popular TV presenter Barry Manandi has pulled out of the race.
Speaking after Chiwanza had paid a courtesy call on him and also sought his “blessings”, Bwanya said it was time for local football to move with the times.
“We cannot have people who want to stay in the same offices for eternity, people must graduate. “I was once very active working with the likes of John Madzima but time dictated that I graduate into an elder statesman. I am happy that we have a few people like Chiwanza who appreciate that there are people who set up the football association after independence.
“Some current administrators are too arrogant, they don’t come to consult us and pay the price through making some shocking errors,” said Bwanya.
The football constitutional expert added that Zifa must be run like a business “because unlike in the 80s, football is now an industry.” That is where we need people like Chiwanza, a football person who has also done well in business, to come in and lead. We had a fruitful and no holds barred meeting during which I told him that we, the godfathers of the game, feel sidelined and he acknowledged as much.
“He is what we need and has my full support,” he added. However, it is Mashingaidze’s decision to rally behind Chiwanza that has added a shocking twist to the election tale. But what could have motivated such a move? The former Zifa chief executive said his decision to endorse Chiwanza is a “football call.”
“Yes my battles with the current FA president (Chiyangwa) are in the public domain just like the relationship between Chamu and the FA president. However, I will not be sincere if I fail to acknowledge that this guy (Chiwanza) deserves to be on the Zifa board. I worked with him during the Cuthbert Dube era and even then, I always urged him to take the plunge into mainstream administration. I am happy he has finally decided to do so,” said Mashingaidze.
