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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO businessmen Gift Banda and Mlungisi Moyo have vowed to appeal against their disqualification from the Zifa national elections set for December 1.

The Zifa electoral committee headed by Vusilizwe Vuma barred Banda from contesting against the association’s incumbent vice-president Omega Sibanda, saying he was improperly nominated, failed the integrity test and had not rehabilitated from a ban which was lifted in 2012.

Writing on behalf of Zifa on December 13, 2012, then national football governing body chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze said: “Your plea for review and lifting of your suspension was considered by the association and I have been directed to convey to you the unconditional lifting of your suspension with immediate effect.”

Banda yesterday sent his notice of appeal to Zifa chief executive officer Joseph Mamutse and asked for the association’s account number to deposit the appeal fee.

The former Njube Sundowns and Zifa Southern Region chairman said he would “follow all football channels” to get back into the race, arguing that the electoral committee erred by disqualifying him from the race.

Together with Moyo, who was also informed that he had been improperly nominated, Banda, who is armed with a clearance letter from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), said: “I hereby write to your office, following the disqualification by the Zifa electoral committee on 2nd November 2018 of my Zifa board vice presidency candidature disqualification, to give notice of my appeal against the disqualification.

“My notice of appeal against the purported disqualification from the Zifa board elections is premised on the heads of argument which shall be made available to your office upon receipt of the following information in line with pre -conditions for a fair and just hearing;

1. Amount of appeal fee payable.

2. Bank account number into which the amount will be paid. Proof of payment shall be attached to the heads of argument.

3. Date for the hearing.

4. Venue for the hearing.

5. Time for the hearing.

6. Names and positions of members of the Zifa electoral committee.

7. Copy of Zifa electoral code.

8. Copy of Zifa constitution.

9. Copy of Zifa rules and regulations. .

10. Copy of Fifa statutes.

11. Copy of Fifa electoral code.

12. Copy of Fifa code of ethics.

13. Copy of minutes and register of the Zifa electoral committee meeting of 2nd November 2018.

14. Copy of the list of the Zifa electoral committee stating names and positions.

15. Copy of Zifa electoral committee ruling confirming my disqualification on 2nd November 2018

16. Copy of the Zifa electoral committee media statement of 2nd November 2018 .

17. Copy of the Zifa congress’ electoral college.

18. Copy of members of Zifa congress eligible to nominate candidates for the Zifa board elections.

19. Copy of the Zifa congress AGM minutes of February 2018.

20. Copy of the Zifa congress EGM minutes of 5th December 2015.

21. Copy of the list of Zifa electoral committee members for period 2014 to 2017.

22. Copy of the current Zifa board members.

23. Copy of the physical address for Zifa head office.”

On failing the integrity test, Banda could challenge even the requirement to have a Zacc clearance added on the national elections’ nomination form when the rest of the elections, from area zones up to regions, demanded one to be cleared by the police.

Some in football circles have questioned how Zifa president Phillip Chiyangwa passed the integrity test when he has a case pending at Zacc following a report made by Mashingaidze.

Even the composition of the electoral committee is being questioned, with some members reportedly “personal friends and lawyers” for incumbent Zifa officials.

Repeated efforts to get a comment from Zifa hit a snag as the association’s spokesman Xolisani Gwesela said he was not in the office and referred inquiries to Mamutse, whose mobile phone was not being answered.. — @ZililoR.