adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
TEN Zifa councillors risk losing their vote at next month’s board elections due to outstanding affiliation fees totalling $30,525. The Zifa secretariat sent a reminder to affiliates with outstanding subscriptions last week and indicated to them that they would not be allowed to cast their votes if they are not in good standing.
Matabeleland South owes the largest amount of $6,040 and has to clear this debt before December 5. Midlands owes $2,500, Masvingo $3,860, Manicaland $3,300, Futsal (five-a-side) $3,560, beach soccer $2,000, women’s soccer $1,795, Mashonaland West $4,510, Harare $1,500 and Mashonaland East $1,460.
Some councillors confirmed that affiliates had been told they would not vote if they aren’t paid up. “This is just a move to deny us an opportunity to have a say in the elections. They tried closing us out from revoking the Cuthbert Dube board using the same method and it failed. We’ve attended Zifa meetings before and why are they bringing this up now,” said one councillor.
It seems the Zifa secretariat is enforcing some sections of Article 13 of its constitution on members’ obligations which reads: “The members of Zifa have the following obligations:
a) to comply fully with the statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of Fifa, Caf and Zifa at all times and to ensure that these are also respected by its members;
d) to pay their membership subscriptions.”
Zifa spokesman Xolisani Gwesela could not be drawn into commenting about shutting out councillors that are not in good standing.
“I can give you the association’s position tomorrow because (the chief executive officer Jonathan) Mashingaidze is not around,” said Gwesela.
Harare businessman Philip Chiyangwa and Leslie Gwindi are the only two candidates that have declared their interests in the Zifa presidential seat.
Chiyangwa seems to have made big strides with his campaign that has seen him meet some councillors in Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare.
His running mate Omega Sibanda remains unchallenged so far for the vice-president’s position.
Former Warriors’ captain Benjani Mwaruwari has also entered the race and is reportedly targeting a board seat.
Online Reporter