Hope Chizuzu
It didn’t matter that the Zifa councillors, 76 of them had a short pilgrimage to prophet Walter Magaya’s Yadah hotel, until well after 2100hrs, on Friday, they and a band more filled the car park, lobby and reception area of the picturesque Rainbow hotel, all in catechism for the Zifa executive committee election set for today.
The Page, in tow for the hints of how the plebiscite would go, saw and heard enough of the parish conversations and coral choirs and Pope convictions, to a good measure.
And……….
This is no ordinary election. Magaya, disqualified and hurt for the temple, over the decision, had a stamp and a seal to the exhibition.
Gift Banda, with all CAS music and balle dance dead and packed away like Italian sardines, had Zifa councillors showing him obeyance with ancestral piety. Ah….
It is confusing. Banda, off course, has a subtle way around human relations. He is that good that even as an opposition politician, the establishment could still crack a trust and a smile all in one glass.
But what was not confusing from last night to the early hours of this morning was that Nqobile Magwizi is the next Zifa president.
The councillors have made their decision. They had just two choices, after the closest challenger to the title, Phelimon Machana read the script and tore the manuscript.
The councillors either had to elect Magwizi or they had to elect Magwizi…and elect Magwizi they will. And the feeling is liberating for them.
It is all champagne and no whisk and in the process, Kenny Ndebele, the former PSL CEO, will be baptized as vice president while Wadzanai Mukura comes in as second vice president.
The presidency was sealed last night, as well as the positions of executive committee members where overwhelmingly, Brighton “Panjap” Ushendibaba, at 37, wily and willing, Tafadzwa Benza, a nerd from the Herentals farm, Tavengwa Hara, a lawyer with a touch of truancy, Tizirai Luphahla, too soft for the trade, Thomas Marambanyika, professorial to the bone and Davison Muchena are shoe ins for the Exco.
In all my football coverage journey, some have of it, saw me in African, Asia and European cities, following the rituals to do with elections, this one, has been amazingly different, if perplexing.
Off course beer flowed and some had early nights to bed with disappointment, while other forgot to sleep, yet others chased even their shadows.
It was also surreal that councillors refused to accept some dollars from a certain candidate. Ah bere kuramba nyama munaNdira kkkkk!
The Page, who less than 12 hours ago, reported that Machana could withdraw from the ballot, can now confirm that he is remains in the race.
He told The Page he appreciates efforts by the those who pressured him to leave the space, but respects football enough and remains fighting for the alternative.
What a man! Even in the face of this Magwizi juggernaut, Machana thinks the race requires competition and legitimacy, otherwise the election risks being a farce.
Machana, is still in the race. Enough respect.
Election overshadows the AGM, so much that few will bother with Zifa NC reports or the FIFA catechism, whose cohorts have been holed in the country since Tuesday.
They’re desperate to exit the stage and handover football to the Zifa and today Magwizi has been baptized and christened Zifa president for the next four years, with the 78 councillors, who now all must go into the election to renew their mandate, for the same period.
It is interesting moments for our football but don’t be lied to; to say there is no money in football. Ah, there is too much of it, people just don’t see it and these football ants are happy to perpetuate that myth.
There was enough exhibition of that and The Page was an eye witness to that.
When they invite you hunting, it is because they have seen your weapon 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
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