Online Reporter
Petros Kausiyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIFA’s long-awaited elections, aimed at fulfilling a constitutional mandate and reforming the association’s top policy-making body, the Congress, have moved into full swing with candidates across the country jostling for positions as councillors.
In line with a FIFA directive issued at the appointment of the Normalisation Committee in July 2023, the world football governing body ordered that the elected executive committee would need to conduct polls for the rest of Congress.
With the Normalisation Committee winding up their business, it meant that Nqobile Magwizi’s leadership, elected to office on January 25, needed to fulfil that task.
They have since conducted elections for the Premier Soccer League and the Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League, whose chairpersons helped complete the executive committee.
However, Magwizi and his executive risked attracting the wrath of FIFA had they not fulfilled the constitutional requirement of holding elections across all affiliate members including the regions, provinces, Area Zones and NASH.
Such sanctions from FIFA include but are not limited to Zimbabwe ceding voting rights at the world body’s Congress.
But a flurry of communication between the ZIFA Electoral Committee through their ex-officio member and association General Secretary Yvonne Manwa shows that the election season is now indeed in swing.
“Following the official opening of nomination forms on 6 October 2025, all administrators are hereby advised and encouraged to disseminate the nomination form widely to any individuals who may wish to participate in the upcoming elections,’’ read part of a circular, which Manwa sent to all affiliates.
She followed that up with other circulars advising the affiliates on the modalities and the participation fees.
“Further to Circular 032 regarding the circulation and handling of nomination forms for the upcoming elections, please be advised that all completed nomination forms must now be submitted directly and exclusively to the ZIFA Head Office.
“This directive supersedes previous guidance on regional collection.
“Administrators are therefore no longer required to collect or deliver nomination forms on behalf of candidates.
“Administrators should continue to disseminate nomination forms widely and provide guidance to interested candidates.
“The closing date for submission remains 21 October 2025 at 1700hrs.
“Candidates must ensure their forms are endorsed by at least two members and submitted in person or via registered mail to the above address (ZIFA headquarters at Tendeseka Park in Harare).
“Receipts for nomination and election fees will be issued from the Elections Office, and candidates using registered mail are encouraged to use the ZIFA bank account for direct deposits.
“We count on your continued cooperation in upholding the integrity and transparency of this electoral process,’ added Manwa.
The ZIFA chief executive also outlined the $350 ($100 for nomination fees and $250 for election fees) participation fees, which the prospective candidates for ordinary members of affiliates would have to fork out.
But more importantly, the staging of elections also ensures that ZIFA remain a compliant member of FIFA.
FIFA had earlier also written to ZIFA commending them for implementing the provisions of the constitution, which was amended by Congress at an Extraordinary General Meeting in Harare in October last year at which the requirement for presidential candidates to have passed 5 Ordinary Level subjects, was among the most popular resolutions.
In commending ZIFA, FIFA chief member Associations officer Elkhan Mammadov reminded on the need to fulfil the constitutional requirement of holding elections within the year in which the statutes were adopted.
“We begin by acknowledging and appreciating the commendable work that ZIFA has undertaken so far in implementing the revised ZIFA Statutes and strengthening football governance structures in Zimbabwe.
“Your continued efforts demonstrate a genuine commitment to aligning with best practices and building confidence in the administration of the game,’’ said Mammadov.
“At the same time, we wish to remind ZIFA of the content of Article 85 paragraph 1 of the Statutes, which requires all Members of ZIFA (Members) to bring themselves into full compliance within one year of the adoption of the Statutes. This compliance relates specifically to Article 13 paragraph 2 and Article 16 paragraph 1 (g), (h), (k), (o), and (p). The Statutes clearly state that any Member failing to achieve compliance within this time-frame automatically loses its voting rights at Congress until it complies with this requirement.
“For clarity, Article 16 paragraph 1 (n) of the Statutes, which specifically refers to Article 13 paragraph 2, obliges Members to provide specific mandatory items as part of their constitutional and regulatory framework, including legally valid statutes or constitutional documents, declarations of compliance with the Statutes and regulations of ZIFA, COSAFA, CAF and FIFA, adherence to the Laws of the Game, and guarantees of independence in decision-making and appointments, among others.
“In addition to these provisions, it is important to recall that Article 16, paragraph 1, as a whole, imposes broader obligations on all members.
“These include, among others, the duty to respect the statutes and regulations of ZIFA, to uphold good governance principles, and to ensure democratic processes such as the election of their decision-making bodies at least every four years.”
FIFA also reminded ZIFA of the authority bestowed on them as the football mother body in the country, putting paid to any pockets of resistance that they may have tried to scupper the election process.
“As the governing body at national level, ZIFA is responsible for ensuring that all Members respect these obligations and retains the authority to sanction any Member that fails to comply, as expressly provided in the Statutes. In this regard, we respectfully request that ZIFA provide clarification and confirmation on the steps taken to ensure that all Members have achieved compliance with these obligations.
“This is essential not only for the legitimacy of Congress decisions but also for the integrity of ZIFA’s governance framework as a whole. We thank you once again for your efforts and commitment to football governance in Zimbabwe and look forward to your response,’’ added Mammadov.
Peter Tanyanyiwa