Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
LOSING candidates in the Zifa Bulawayo Province chairmanship race Oscar Mazhambe and Mkhululi Mthunzi have termed the election process flawed, arguing that “ghost” voters cast ballots at the expense of some affiliates.
Mazhambe and Mthunzi lost to incumbent Francis Ntutha, who polled 14 votes, while the two challengers each got two votes.
In separate interviews yesterday, the two alleged that Zifa sent them on a wild goose chase, giving them “fake” details of the electoral college, which was presented to them on the eve of the elections.
“I’m not a sore loser, but I think it is important for people to know about the uneven playing field that we were subjected to. For starters, I asked the electoral committee who compiled the voters’ roll after noticing that none of the Division Three teams, which contribute to the fiscus of the province, were not on the list. I was told by the electoral committee that the issue of the voters’ roll can be clarified after voting. Certainly is this fair?
“I also noticed that whoever compiled the voters’ roll went on to select within club structures who was going to vote and I’ve proof of that. People are not ashamed that they are destroying football and are afraid of real change. I won’t take this lying down because I refuse to be part of this culture of setting a wrong precedence by manipulating the voting process,” said Mthunzi.
Division Three clubs like Bhekeni Celtic, LSU, Khami, Vitality and How Mine are some of the clubs said to be in good standing, but were not allowed to cast their votes.
Mpopoma Pirates and Ajax Hotspurs, who are in Division Two, were frozen out since they owed the province substantial amounts.
“There was no transparency at all and some of the teams that were left to vote were not in good standing. Area zones, which do not contribute anything to the province, voted yet they are yet to hold their elections. What was the criteria of selecting people who came to vote?
“The process was just unfair and the field was tilted in favour of the eventual winner by the powers that be. I for one struggled to get information on the voters’ roll and it was only availed to me on Thursday night, with only a day left before the elections. I only got to know about the election venue on the eve of voting yet I had been making constant requests for information from the office,” Mazhambe said.
Mazhambe, chairman of Zenzele Tigers, said he was shocked to see Bryton Malandule, who is listed as a director of Ajax Hotspurs, who are not in good standing, voting on behalf of the club.
It was also established that one Lulu Ncube, who voted on behalf of Umguza area zone, was a driver at an organisation that Ntutha works for.
Chicken Inn had their written request of having Simbarashe Mutubuki voting on their behalf thrown away, resulting in Juta Tshuma rushing to vote.
Mazhambe and Mthunzi questioned why Umguza and Insuza Area Zones, who are under Matabeleland North, were allowed to vote in Bulawayo. – @ZililoR
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