Philemon Machana’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) alleging third-party interference in the recent ZIFA elections has sparked debate over what qualifies as external influence in football governance.
Machana, who contested for the ZIFA presidency but was defeated by businessman Nqobile Magwizi in a decisive victory, has teamed up with former PSL chairman Twine Phiri to challenge the election results.
The duo has approached CAS, seeking a ruling that nullifies the election outcome, arguing that businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s promises of luxury cars for Magwizi and Councillors, contingent on Magwizi’s victory, amounted to external interference.
Additionally, Chivayo pledged a US$10 million sponsorship package for ZIFA if Magwizi assumed office.
Machana and Phiri are pushing for a fresh election within 30 days of any ruling invalidating the poll. They are requesting:
- A declaration that external influence affected the presidential election, rendering it illegitimate.
- A ruling that Magwizi’s election as ZIFA president on January 25, 2025, is null and void.
- An order instructing ZIFA to conduct a new election for its presidency within 30 days of the ruling.
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However, Machana’s move has raised several questions, particularly regarding his past association with Chivayo.
- In 2016, Machana was part of the ZIFA board that accepted Chivayo’s US$1 million sponsorship for the association. If that was acceptable then, why is the current US$10 million pledge now being considered improper?
- By previously welcoming Chivayo into Zimbabwean football, did the ZIFA board at the time—including Machana—set the precedent for the businessman’s current financial commitments?
- Did the board’s decision to allow Chivayo to purchase a brand-new Toyota D4D for then-Warriors coach Kallisto Pasuwa in 2016 pave the way for him to later promise cars for Councillors?
- Did the same apply when the board approved Chivayo’s purchase of another Toyota D4D for then-Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi?
- The ZIFA board, led by Philip Chiyangwa, also accepted Chivayo’s last-minute intervention to settle a debt owed to former Warriors coach Tom Saintfiet, preventing the national team from being banned from World Cup qualifiers for a second consecutive cycle.
These factors raise concerns about the consistency of Machana’s stance on third-party influence, particularly given his previous involvement in similar arrangements.