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Xolisani Gwesela

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
ASPIRING Zimbabwe Women Football chairperson candidates will fork out $500 for the November 19 elections.

Candidates for the deputy chairperson post will pay $400, aspiring committee members will part with $300, while nomination forms cost $50.

The elections, according to the electoral committee chaired by retired judge Justice Selo Nare, will be held on November 19 at a venue to be advised. The committee met on Tuesday to craft a roadmap for women’s football in accordance with the dictates of the Zifa electoral code.

Nomination opened on Wednesday and will close on November 2, with the vetting of nominees set to be conducted on November 5. The appeals window will be open from November 6-9.

According to the Justice Nare committee, the final list of successful candidates will be published on November 14.

In terms of article 21 of the Zifa constitution, the Zimbabwe Women Soccer League is represented by four delegates in the Zifa assembly and should all be female.

Article 32 states that the chairperson of the Women Soccer League is a member of the Zifa executive committee.

In terms of Article 47, the chairperson of the Women Soccer League also chairs the women football standing committee, but all national teams are managed by the Zifa executive committee.

“Only the chairpersons of clubs which complied with the Zifa requirements shall be eligible to vote, the deadline has since expired. We will disclose compliant clubs to the electoral college,” said Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela.

In mid-August, Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa issued a communiqué advising clubs to regularise their operations by registering with the national association on or before the August 31 deadline.

However, Southern Region Women’s Football chairperson Takundwa Chimundiya told Chronicle Sport last month that no formal communication was sent to the clubs.

The women football elections come at a time when Fifa has just unveiled an ambitious programme that will see member associations getting $315 million to incentivise investment in the development of the women’s game, including funds for the successful organisation of girls’ leagues, women’s professional leagues and the creation of a development strategy for the game.

This is in addition to the resources committed through the new Women’s Football Division.

Fifa has also set a goal of doubling to 60 million the number of female football players worldwide by 2026 through the development and execution of a strategy to bring women’s football to the mainstream.

Elizabeth Langa leads the Zimbabwe Women Football interim committee and is deputised by Cecilia Gambe, with Musa Ntonga, Beaula Msarah and Rosemary Muzvidziwa serving as committee members. — @skhumoyo2000.