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Harare City chairman Leslie Tafadzwa Gwindi today officially launched his manifesto as he runs for the office of Zifa president, outlining his vision for football, if elected to the office on Saturday.
The former Dynamos and Premier Soccer League secretary decided to release his blue-print, just a day after the High Court had dismissed a bid by Harare lawyer and football administrator Saidi Sangula’s to stop the polls. Sangula had sought to have the polls deferred, citing irregularities in the electoral process.

Gwindi said he had been in consultations with some members of the Zifa Electoral College over the past few days and is assured of some votes.

“We have discussed on face value and have gone right round the country on a campaign trail and they have been impressed by our presentations. The key issues that have been raised by the constituencies is how do we implement the blue print?

“I told them that you made an experiment over the last four years and some of us were very clear that our football went into the dark ages during that period.

“Now that they are wiser, I hope they will make the right decisions, going forward.  Two of the running guys have been in the previous board and have failed to uplift our football and it will be a disaster if they are retained. One of my rivals has been away from our football for more than 21 years, he does not know most of the people currently involved on a personal level,” said Gwindi.

Gwindi is expected to enter the race against – incumbent Cuthbert Dube, Trevor Carelse-Juul and Nigel Munyati.

In his manifesto Gwindi outlined 11 areas he felt the out-going Zifa board came short on and top of his list is the Asiagate scandal.

“The Asiagate was badly handled and up to now it’s not even completed.

Why not let bygones be bygones. Thomas Sweswe has paid his appeal fees but up to now nothing has moved. I promise that we will kiss and merry after my first 60 days in office on Asiagate, “he said.

Gwindi made a promise to restore the authority of the Zifa Assembly, which is the supreme football making body in Zimbabwe, and adherence to the constitution to restore good governance.

“If elected, I hope to see to it that the Zifa constitution is adhered to and followed. All the problems that we had over the years were because the constitution was not being followed and it was made to look like a secretive document. Right now the Zifa board was giving directions to the Council instead of the Assembly supervising the executive,” he said.

Gwindi has premised his action plan for Zimbabwe football on accountability, adherence to constitution, good governance, development and sustenance of women’s leagues and juniors.