adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
VETERAN administrator Musa Mandaza bounced back into mainstream football management when he was elected Zifa Southern Region chairman in Bulawayo yesterday.
Mandaza polled 14 votes against eight for challenger Mandlenkosi Moyo.ZPC (Hwange) secretary Gaylord Madunguza was elected vice chairman taking over from Morgan Dube who did not seek re-election.
Madunguza polled 13 votes to Tawanda Ruzive’s nine. Former Zifa panel referee Brighton Malandule was voted into office by all but one club, garnering 21 votes while Zimbabwe Saints secretary Jabulani Chinyangarara also got into office after getting 11 votes.
New West City founder Tumediso “Drogba” Ndlovu who got 19 votes said he would take up the board member development portfolio. In his first speech after taking office Mandaza said there was peace when he won in 2006. He alleged money was used when he lost in 2010.
He said he was keen to run for office for one term and pass on the baton to someone younger. However the elections were marred by allegations of vote buying and confusion regarding the selection of voting candidates.
Elliot Manduna of Zimbabwe Saints as well as a Mutasa who is a Matabeleland North board member were reportedly denied the right to vote. Manduna is eyeing a Zifa national board post. Saints were asked to leave the house to sort out who would vote on behalf of the club. Eventually it was decided that Manduna who is a board member should give way to executive member Chinyangarara who was Mandaza’s running mate.
Meanwhile, losing candidate Moyo described the elections as a farce. He said he was not happy with change of delegates to vote and that some known sympathisers of certain camps had voted despite not having identity cards as was the requirement.
Moyo questioned why returning officer Ralph Maganga was seen with delegates at a hotel 220km from Bulawayo who were coming to vote. Maganga was appointed to supervise the elections by the Zifa board.
“I have lost but the truth of the matter is that the elections were just a big farce, how do you have people with no identity cards voting? We also know that there was a planning meeting held at Halfway Hotel involving some members of the Matabeleland North executive and clubs and Maganga,” fumed Moyo.
Maganga confirmed meeting the delegates at the hotel.
“Yes I met with the guys at the place you are mentioning but we were not strategising at all,” said Maganga.
Maganga disassociated himself to reports that $45,000 had been set aside for delegates who would vote in national elections.
The rumour mill had it that some councillors had benefited from $45,000 to entice them to deliver the right presidential vote.
“People will always talk but I know nothing about the money,” he said.
Online Reporter