adminSangula had polled 13 votes to beat DStv Rangers’ Douglas Chitongo with nine and veteran administrator Francis Zimunya who had managed just three.
But that outcome of the poll to find Solomon Mugavazi’s replacement was annulled for alleged irregularities.
Both Chitongo and Zimunya immediately lodged appeals against the manner in which the election had been conducted.
The trio of Owen Chandamale, Derrick Matapuri and Maxwell Pfumo who are the provincial chairmen for Harare, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central respectively also petitioned Zifa to annul the outcome of the elections.
Following the complaints, Zifa referred the matter to the Electoral appeals committee headed by Harare lawyer Tawanda Chitapi, which is set to meet in the capital today to make a determination on the appeals.
Zifa chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze, could not be drawn into discussing much about the election for fear of pre-emptying the discussions that will be held by Chitapi and his colleagues in the Electoral appeals committee — Arnold Tsunga and Ronald Hangazha.
“At the moment I cannot comment much on this matter because upon receipt of the complaints from two of the candidates and the petitions from the provincial chairpersons we referred the case to the relevant committee which is the Electoral appeals committee and that committee is meeting on Tuesday.
“I am sure once they have deliberated on the matter we should have a decision on the complaints that there were a number of irregularities on the day of the elections,’’ Mashingaidze said.
It has, however, emerged that the nature of the irregularities, which Chitongo, Zimunya, Chandamale, Matapuri and Pfumo put through, could force the appeals committee to order a re-run.
With Zifa seen keen on ensuring that a bad precedent is not set ahead of elections in all the association’s structures early next year, it all points to a directive for another round of voting when Chitapi and his colleagues convene.
In his appeal Chitongo argued that the Electoral committee “compromised their mandate allowing the electorate to be divided between Division One clubs and provincial delegates by allowing them to caucus separately while the election process had started.
“Division One clubs urged the Zifa electoral committee to reduce the provincial delegations from three to two per province.
“What is most objectionable is the position taken by the Zifa electoral committee to allow the two groups to canvass during the by-election process. This is universally objectionable… campaigning or lobbying cannot be done within the process of polling in a polling station,’’ said Chitongo
Zimunya also pointed to the fact that there had been campaigning in the election hall while the whole process had been delayed by over three hours of haggling before the members of the Northern Region assembly were allowed to cast their votes.
Zimunya, who has been attempting to bounce back into mainstream football, also questioned the constitutionality of allowing campaigning to take place at the polling station.
“I wish to complain on the way the elections were conducted by the Northern Region, the provinces and the Zifa elections committee which was chaotic, irregular and flawed that rendered the whole exercise a nullity.
“Once the contestants saw that the electorate was not in their favour but was rooting for candidature, they stalled the election process which was already in motion and brought in a different agenda that of voter education and later campaigned afresh on the premises where the election was supposed to be held.
“This was not part of the day’s business according to the agenda of the day. This took almost over three hours,’’ said Zimunya.
The provincial chairmen alleged that: The by elections agenda was hijacked by some First Division clubs in an attempt to have the elections stalled by technicalities. Constitutional reform items were smuggled into the day’s agenda without prior due notice. The day’s agenda was solely to deal with elections.
“The by elections took more than five hours to be conducted as observes and some clubs were bringing up issues meant for discussion at the Zifa Northern Region general assembly meeting and not by elections.
“The three provinces were almost disenfranchised before we took a stand that we would have our three delegates taking part in the by elections,” read part of the petition filed by Chandamale and his colleagues.
Meanwhile, ZBC reported last night that Zifa have formally charged Harare City chairman, Leslie Gwindi, for bringing football into disrepute over comments he made to Bulawayo journalists. Gwindi could face a ban from football again.
Online Reporter