adminfor the Zifa Northern Region chairmanship.
The election is scheduled for Harare hotel at midday tomorrow.
Zimunya tried to return to Zifa in the same capacity in the elections in February 2010 but after securing a nomination to challenge then chairman Solomon Mugavazi, the veteran administrator saw his hopes collapse in embarrassing fashion when he could not even secure a single vote in the election.
Tomorrow Zimunya’s name will go into the hat against the duo of Sangula and Chitongo in a by-election that has been ordered by Zifa to fill the position that fell vacant following Mugavazi’s suspension and subsequent ban from the game over the Asiagate match-fixing allegations.
Mugavazi decided not to challenge his ban.
It is a curious election though whose winner will only be in office for the remainder of the year as another poll to choose a new and substantive Northern Region board will be held early next year which will give the winners a four-year mandate in terms of the constitution.
Despite questions having been raised on the rationale of having a by-election just for one region for only a six to seven month mandate, Sangula, a long serving deputy under Mugavazi before being elevated to steer the ship, remained confident that the Northern Region assembly of clubs would once again give him their thumbs up.
The Northern Region chairman, like any chairperson of the association’s top affiliates, will automatically become a Zifa board member.
Former Kambuzuma United chairman Sangula said he drew his confidence from the fact that the regional assembly of clubs had at their last indaba resolved to have continuity with his board, which also includes secretary-general Sweeney Mushonga, vice-chairman Willard Manyengavana and board member competitions Martin Kweza.
“For me I think the key word is just continuation from what we have started as a region. We have already put in place plans for the season which ware implementing and we have a strategic review for the remaining six months and for those who will perhaps come after me.
“That strategic plan is set for mid-May and it is in line with the assembly’s resolution,’’ Sangula said.
Sangula also expressed concern that the election could impact negatively on a Region that is crying out for a sponsor for its Division One League.
Some members have expressed misgivings on the relevance of these by-elections given the late stage at which they are being held and the short term of the life span that whoever, wins will have in office.
“It means that even if you campaign what new things can you promise to bring to the game in just six months?
“My colleagues in the board felt I should stand so that we remain as a team and finish off what we started.
“Maybe the reason we do not have serious challengers for the post for now is because those who are serious would want to come in towards the end of the year and put their names in to contest for the four-year term rather than being there on an interim basis,’’ Sangula said.
The Northern n Region leadership was also not amused by the Zifa the directive to hold and fund the by-election exercise in which each candidate had to pay US$1 000 registration fees.
Those who will seek a four-year term will also pay a similar figure.
Harare banker Desmond Ali had sought to contest the elections before withdrawing his candidature amid indications that the Ali Sundowns director will try to put in a strong bid for a longer four-year term rather come in on an interim basis.
Sangula said his main worry was that the game had been thrust into election mode when its administrators needed to unite to put together strategies to woo corporate partners.
“We had set ourselves an ambitious programme to look for corporate partners for our football and to make people aware that football is not played in isolation.
“At the moment Division One football is suffering from lack of visibility hence the lack of sponsorship but we have come up with a different approach in which we also want to partner companies in their social responsibility programmes.
“So this whole election business has shifted everyone’s focus and divided people who until now have been working together but I am confident that that the same assembly which asked us to continue will make a public statement to that effect and vote for continuity again tomorrow.
“They are unhappy that this was forced on us but because we have no choice but to do it the assembly just needs to stick by its resolution and retain the leadership they have trusted to deliver,’’ Sangula said.
Chitongo of Division One title aspirants DStv Rangers could not be reached for comment but just like Sangula, Zimunya was upbeat about his chances this time claiming he had only put his head in by public demand.
“I was approached by people who want my knowledge and experience I felt that if it is by public demand I will accept to come back and help the game.
“I think the region wants the programmes that I used to implement from my time with Harare province and at the regional level.
Online Reporter