Zim Handball elections on

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
HANDBALL stakeholders will today meet at Nyameni High School in Marondera to elect a new national executive board. The Zimbabwe Handball Federation were given a directive by the Sports Commission to hold the elections that have been marred by controversy since March 31 when they were cancelled on the same day they were supposed to be conducted.

They were then held in May with Simbiso Mpepereki claiming the president’s post that was previously occupied by Amon Madzvamuse. However, Madzvamuse disputed the elections, saying they were unconstitutional and declared them null and void, before bouncing back as the federation’s president.

Last month, the Sports Commission ordered the elections to be held before the end of this month, failure of which the county’s supreme sports regulatory board would take over the running of the show for the national federation. All posts are up for grabs.

Madzvamuse and Mpepereki are vying for the president’s seat while Alphios Magiya and Allan Mandeya are contesting the vice- president’s post. The secretary-general’s post will feature a battle between Clemence Tauro and Mpepereki. Outgoing treasurer Jameson Shumbanhete is seeking re-election and will be joined by Stewart Sanhewe and Reginald Tsimba.

Lillian Chiketa was unopposed for one of the two committee members’ slots as the ZHF constitution states that one of the members has to be a woman. The trio of Sanhewe, Tsimba and Shumbanhete will battle it out for the remaining slot. The 10 provincial chairpersons, Nash and Naph representatives, as well as Women in Sport representatives, are expected to vote today.

But on Wednesday, Madzvamuse said none of the 10 provinces had paid their affiliation fees pegged at $500 and urged them to pay to enable them to cast their votes. However, yesterday, the ZHF secretary-general Magiya said the elections will proceed as the participants have paid their membership fees.

“This does not have an effect because the affiliation fee will be determined by the board that we will put in place. An outgoing board cannot put a budget for an incoming board. “Affiliation fees are determined by the national executive board, then adopted by the councillors. In 2015 we said we do not have a board so those that are coming in will propose the figure by presenting a budget because the subscriptions go together with the budget.

“All participating candidates and the electorate should be affiliated members and they are all affiliated except one member who has between today and tomorrow (today) before 10am to affiliate. “Everyone has paid $30 membership fee and the executive members pay $50,” Magiya said. Magiya said they cannot afford to defy the directive from the Sports Commission as it will send the wrong signal.

“This one is a directive from the Sports Commission and we cannot fail to have the elections, because failure to do so means we have surrendered the process to them (Sports Commission) so we can’t afford to fail when we have all the structures to participate. “Failing will send a wrong signal,” said Magiya.

The Sports Commission’s corporate communications officer, Tirivashe Nheweyembewa, said ZHF had communicated with them confirming the elections are on and their Sport Co-ordinator for Mashonaland East, Tellmore Chibanda, will observe the elections in Marondera today.