Peter Moyo
In a dramatic turn of events, the integrity of Zimbabwe’s football governance is under scrutiny as former ZIFA officials Phillemon Machana and Twine Phiri appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the association’s recent presidential election. The core of their appeal involves allegations of electoral manipulation through luxury car bribes and overt political endorsements.
The controversy centers around businessman Wicknell Chivayo, accused of using his wealth to sway the election for Nqobile Magwizi. “Chivayo openly promised to gift a top-of-the-range vehicle to Magwizi if he won and pledged a substantial donation of USD 10 million to ZIFA,” the claimants stated. Each of the 78 voting delegates was allegedly promised a new vehicle for their vote, potentially corrupting the process.
The situation allegedly escalated with political involvement from former Deputy Sports Minister Tino Machakaire, who publicly endorsed Magwizi on social media.
The ZIFA Electoral Code strictly prohibits third-party influence, and Machana and Phiri argue these actions violate ZIFA’s own regulations, which require reporting such issues to FIFA and CAF.
They seek a CAS ruling to declare the election illegitimate, nullify Magwizi’s presidency, and mandate new elections within 30 days, excluding current delegates and Magwizi. They also request interim measures to remove Magwizi from office pending a final decision.
This case could set a significant precedent for handling electoral disputes in sports governance, with the global football community watching closely as CAS deliberates.
