The upcoming ZIFA elections, set for January 25, 2025, have been thrown into disarray following an appeal filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by Benjani Mwaruwari and Gift Banda, both of whom are vying for top leadership positions.
Mwaruwari, a former captain of the Zimbabwe Warriors and ex-Manchester City striker, challenged his exclusion from the list of candidates released by the ZIFA Normalisation Committee on December 23. After unsuccessfully seeking clarification from ZIFA, he escalated the matter to CAS under FIFA regulations, which permit appeals within 21 days of a decision by a member association.
Mwaruwari’s exclusion reportedly stemmed from his failure to meet the educational requirement of five Ordinary Level passes. He had instead submitted his UEFA A coaching certificate as a substitute qualification.
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Gift Banda, a businessman from Bulawayo and former ZIFA acting president, was barred from contesting after failing an integrity check mandated for candidates in the election.
In a response to an inquiry from the Zimpapers Sports Hub, CAS confirmed that the appeal, filed as case CAS 2024/A/11104, is now under consideration. CAS stated:
On 31 December 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) registered the following appeal arbitration procedure: CAS 2024/A/11104 Benjani Mwaruwari & Gift Banda v. ZIFA Normalisation Committee. The arbitration is at an early stage, and no further information is available at this time.
The appeals process has added uncertainty to an already contentious electoral process, with the results potentially shaping the future of Zimbabwean football governance.
