New twist to Zifa polls

THE ZIFA elections took a new twist after the association’s electoral committee yesterday gave presidential hopeful Felton Kamambo and two other candidates that had been barred from contesting in the forthcoming poll the green light to participate.

Kamambo, Gift Banda and Mlungisi Moyo had been disqualified after the ZIFA Electoral Committee and the ZIFA Electoral Appeals Committee had noted irregularities in their nomination papers.

However, the ZIFA Electoral Committee chairman, Don Vuma, yesterday announced that the decision had been reversed after his committee reviewed the decisions.

In a statement to the media, Vuma said the decision was reached after his commission noted that the appeals for three candidates were not dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Code.

As a result, the three are now eligible to contest in the ZIFA Executive Committee elections, which brings to a close an election season that began a few months back.

The election for the Executive Committee members will take place this Saturday, while that of the president and vice president has been deferred by a week to December 8. supposed to be given the Electoral College 15 days before an election.

“It’s like they are acknowledging the anomaly that they did in the first place and continuously doing another anomaly.

“That’s why I am saying I was still to apply myself to their latest judgment because we are still holding on to letters that they wrote to us saying that we must not get anywhere near ZIFA,” said Banda.

Kamambo will stand toe to toe with Chiyangwa, while Banda and Sibanda tussle for the vice presidency on December 8.

But the final round of the ZIFA elections begin this Saturday when seven candidates battle it out for the four slots available for the Executive Committee.

The nominees are: incumbent ZIFA board member finance Philemon Machana, media practitioner Barrymore Manandi, public relations executive Sugar Chagonda, businessman Chamu Chiwanza, veteran administrator Stanley Chapeta and ex-referee Brighton Malandule.

President: Chiyangwa Philip and Kamambo Felton Vice President: Banda Gift andSibanda Omega Executive Committee members: Chagonda Sugar, Moyo Mlungisi, Chapeta Stanley, Chiwanza Rodrick Chamunorwa, Machana Phillemon, Malandule Bryton Briton and Manandi Barrymore