Chronicle Editor
Tadious Manyepo, Harare Bureau
HERENTALS Colleges FC owner and striker Innocent Benza could make history by becoming the first professional footballer to hold political office if he bags the Mutasa Central parliamentary seat in the harmonised elections set for today.
At 51, Benza is the oldest footballer in the Premier Soccer League having made his debut at the age of 46 in 2018.
And he is eyeing to clip yet another piece of history with a win in today’s polls.
He is contesting on a Zanu-PF ticket.
“We have done remarkable work over the months and we are looking forward to winning the Mutasa Central parliamentary seat,” he said.
“I am very happy with how everything has panned out so far. We have put in place so many projects and the people here are very happy.
“I think we are geared up and victory is certain”.
Benza has actually set up a football team in rural Mutasa with the players drawn from the villages.
The team, which competes in Division 2 has been to different parts of the country where players have been drilled by top experts on the modern playing philosophies.
Benza said he is not planning to hang up his boots if he wins in this plebiscite.
“I am not ready to quit football. That’s my passion and I will be playing the game for as long my legs can carry me,” Benza said.
“I am happy to be the oldest player in the Premier Soccer League. It’s something that I don’t take for granted. I am also happy with the way every football stakeholder treats me. Zimbabweans are a loving lot and they keep me going”.
Benza is not the only sports personality vying for political office in today’s poll.
Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Tino Machakaire is seeking a second term as the Wedza South legislator.
The firebrand Government official, who is also the Zanu-PF Secretary for Youth Affairs first bagged the Wedza South seat in 2018 following a landslide victory over his contestants from other political parties.
And he will be hoping to retain the post with yet another landslide today. The charismatic figure is loved so much in that part of the country due to his championing several sporting activities.
Since 2018, he has invested over US$500 000 in sport tournaments with participants winning motorcycles and vehicles.
Just recently, he sponsored the mega-dollar football and netball ED Cup tournament in honour of President Mnangagwa’s several developmental projects across Wedza.
Over 2 000 participants took part with teams who were eliminated at the first hurdle getting at least US$2 000.
The final which was supposed to take place on August 13 at Sadza Growth Point was rescheduled due to other pressing issues on the part of Machakaire who was expected to be the guest of honour on the day.
Nevertheless, the high-stakes matches will be staged on September 9 at the same venue with Machakaire confident he would have retained his position.
“I don’t only sponsor sports tournaments. I do cater for each and every person from my constituency,” said Machakaire recently.
“We have put in place several developmental projects in Wedza from horticulture to apiculture”.
Machakaire has also carved a niche for hosting arguably the biggest entertainment gala on every Christmas Day in his village.
Since 2018, musicians from all genres gathered for the festival known as the Wedza South Arts gala.
They include arguably the best musician in the country Alick Macheso, Jah Prayzah, Killer T, Freeman, Baba Harare, Lipsy and Mark Ngwazi to mention a few.
Caps United president Farai Jere is also in the fray and he is confident of winning the Murehwa West parliamentary post.
Jere made headlines after adopting all children from all 31 schools in this constituency who he is paying tuition fees for.
He has also empowered that community including setting up a rural football academy at Rusike School.
https://youtu.be/TX9NrZuGut0enza
“What’s important for me is to see everyone smiling with the empowerment they would have been given,” said Jere.
“I am very confident we will win resoundingly. We are so excited to be part of this poll and we are optimistic of success.”
Former Zifa vice-president Gift Banda is also gunning for political office.
But other sports personalities who wanted to contest in today’s polls will not be able to do that after they lost in the primary elections held three months ago.
Some of them include another former Zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda and ex-Caps United chief executive Charlie Jones who wanted to be a councillor in Arcadia in Harare.
Online Reporter