Hope Chizuzu
The button changed hands yesterday when Lincoln Mutasa and his Normalization Committee, handed over the affairs of Zifa to Nqobile Magwizi and his elected Exco, bringing an end to the FIFA judicial management of our affairs, The Page reports.
After romping to victory by 61 votes, Magwizi and his two deputies and six other members, got to work yesterday in a fashion so consistent with what our game requires – governance prudence.
To show that the Exco mean business, it was first decided that all members resign from positions they held, prior to becoming Exco members.
They should have done that before the elections.
Already vice president Kenny Ndebele had left his position as PSL CEO before the polls.
Wadza Mukura, resigned a day after winning the vice president(women) position.
So Tafadzwa Benza has to leave his Herentals seat as should Brighton Ushendibaba, as Scotland vice president, Alice Zeure (ummm this one!) has to quit as Harare City secretary general, while Thomas Marambanyika leaves his position as vice chair of Central Region.
Kudzi Kadzombe and president Magwizi didn’t have much to relinquish as there is hardly any conflict with the football ecosystem.
In a communique to members of the assembly, the ones who say to elected the Exco, the meeting determined that a road map be shared, in which there will be transitional audit of affairs, in order to smoothly move power from NC aka FIFA, to the Exco.
Key to issues agreed on was the WAFCON qualifiers which begins this month with the Mighty Warriors, coming into camp tomorrow, until the 16th when they depart, first, to Angola and then South Africa.
Preparations for Women African Cup of Nations have been given all the attention as the Magwizi Exco, determines to give all national teams the attention deserving of country representatives.
Zimbabwe play Angola on February 20 before engaging South Africa six days later. The team departs on February 17 for Luanda before returning to Johannesburg on February 21 to face Banyana Banyana.
Zifa president, Magwizi also asked all members of the FA to submit their statutory affiliate notaries, in accordance with art 12 of the Zifa constitution.
Most of the Zifa affiliates do not have statutes that comply with the new constitution, so such information is required in order to rationalize everything ahead of the AGM, which should take place inside 90 days.
Magwizi advised that specific notice for the EGM will be communicated in due course, but of importance is that the ball was set rolling and today, February 1, the clock is ticking for the new Exco.
The new brooms, which are expected to clean smarter will soon be on a merry go round in the provinces and regions on stakeholder engagement, during which they gather views from people.
This is a smart vision way of doing things, more so, when the assembly awaits regularization with pertinent electoral committee to be put in place in order to audit and map out, affiliates requiring elections.
The PSL need to have their elections and it is largely expected Farai Jere, a competent leader, who had left his position as chair of the league, to contest for the Zifa presidency, will again get the approval of clubs.
That PSL post has the added importance of a seat in the Exco. The same goes for the women super league, where elections will be held, and like the mens’, the leader will also sit in the Exco.
With the Exco due to hold their first official meeting, in 10 days, whose notice must go out any time, a complete road map of issues will be determined to set the path clear for the football community.
Key committees of electoral and referees will have to be made soon, as the league season beckons, in a months’ time.
Referees committee require special technical application and such, such a committee require more time to have the referees ready for the season.
The same with the electoral committee, which is key in constituting the assembly and populating it, especially where co-options have been the modus operandi.
That requires election to make the positions legal. Meanwhile, it is imperative for the football community to understand that elections are over and that Magwizi was elected president together with his team.
He requires our support and space to work and lead our nation.
He doesn’t require the debilitating noise and social media madness, not the least CAS appeals to overturn the process.
No. That is not only counterproductive, but also selfish.
Zimbabwe is more important than individuals and elections are never perfect exercises, but that should not make us lose sight of the ultimate goal, which is making our football great again.
Magwizi, is a reposte of good governance and it is perhaps the single most important requirement for our game, at the moment.
Let us give him and his board the space to thrive. In Kenny Ndebele, he has a moving encyclopedia of football while Ushendibaba brings corporate connectivity that operates above the 5G capabilities.
Merging that with innovative improvisation from Benza and the community based workaholism of Kadzombe, we have a good chance in paradise to cheese.
No matter how the buttocks hurry, they will always remain behind….kkkkkk…. this is not my handwriting.
@ChizuzuHope X(formerly Twitter) WHATSAPP +263715001628