Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NORTHERN REGION Division One side, Banket United, held their annual meeting in the farming town on Saturday during which they effectively replaced one of their former board members, Nqobile Magwizi, who is now the ZIFA president.
Magwizi resigned from his post soon after his January 25 election to become the next substantive ZIFA president on a four-year mandate.
In stepping down from his Banket United position, Magwizi was also fulfilling a ZIFA constitutional requirement, which requires members of the executive committee to relinquish any positions they may have held in the association’s affiliate members prior to their election.
This is also aimed at avoiding conflict of interest and is in line with the global corporate governance tenets.
After Magwizi led by example and stepped down from the modest NRSL outfit, the club’s board officially accepted his departure at their annual indaba.
Banket United board member Wilfred Dandajena confirmed the development to Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“Nqobile Magwizi resigned as a result of him being voted into office.
“This was clarified at the annual general meeting held today,’’ said Dandajena.
In a ZIFA leadership that was expanded in line with the amendments to the association’s statutes, Magwizi now leads an 11-member executive committee.
Similarly, his board members, who held positions at clubs and other affiliates prior to their election into the higher office, have stepped down.
ZIFA vice president Kennedy Ndebele also resigned from his post as Premier Soccer League chief executive officer.
Loveness Mukura, an ex-Herentals Queens player and official, has also left her previous position at the club after being elected ZIFA’s first woman vice president.
Former Herentals chairman, Tafadzwa Benza, also confirmed yesterday that he had relinquished his post at the Students.
“I actually resigned from my post at Herentals soon after the ZIFA elections on January 25.
“I am no longer part of the team,” said Benza.
Seasoned administrator Davison Muchena is no longer the chairman of the Eastern Region, while Thomas Marambanyika has also vacated his post on the Central Region executive, where he was the vice-chairman.
Harare businessman Brighton Ushendibaba also confirmed he is no longer with Premiership champions Simba Bhora.
Ushendibaba was a director at the Shamva-based side, where he joined forces with club president Simba Ndoro to ensure Simba Bhora claimed their maiden league championship title.
“I am no longer with Simba Bhora, now that I am a ZIFA board member.
“Remember, it’s tantamount to a conflict of interest for board members to continue serving in the association’s structures,” said Ushendibaba.
He also shrugged off suggestions that he was in the administrative structures of Premiership newboys Scottland.
The new ZIFA leadership have charmed the football family so far with the swift manner in which they have moved to address some of the anomalies that have been a perennial problem at the association.
This includes a massive improvement in the way ZIFA have been handling the welfare of the Mighty Warriors and guaranteed them a longer training camp ahead of their CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola.
Last week, Magwizi, flanked by his deputies Ndebele and Mukura, board member Kudzai Kadzombe, and chief executive Yvone Manwa, met with the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe president Desmond Maringwa and secretary-general Wonder Sithole, were a mutual agreement for both parties to make collaborative efforts to improve the national game was reached.
