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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

ZIFA appear to be dodging the big question over the eligibility of president Felton Kamambo and board member finance Philemon Machana to stand in the next elections.

The two most powerful men in Zimbabwe football have been in the game’s administrative structures since 2015 and have served in the last two executive committees.

The association’s constitution only limits membership, on the executive committee for, at most, two terms.

The ZIFA president and board member in charge of finance started off by completing the tenure of the Cuthbert Dube-led board, which was kicked out via a vote of no-confidence, before they got re-elected in December 2018.

The two, however, have been playing their cards close to their chest, as they would not want to be drawn into the electioneering mode, before the end of their tenure.

The association’s legal advisor Chenaimoyo Gumiro yesterday was non-committal, when asked about Kamambo and Machana’s eligibility, for another term.

“I think we can only be guided by the constitution when it comes to the elections and who is eligible,’’ the Harare lawyer told The Herald.

“Each case depends on the circumstances. “The constitution is very clear in Article 32 (3).

“The ZIFA Congress elects executive committee members who will then be appointed to various portfolios.

“Executive members are elected for a term of four years and can be re-re-elected again, once. So, I will not comment on the specific individual office holders, but the constitution is very clear on this.’’ Article 32 (3) of the ZIFA constitution states that “the mandate of the president, vice presidents and members of the executive committee is for four years.

“They may be re-elected, for one additional term.”

Kamambo and Machana were part of the ZIFA board, which came into office in December 2015, when Phillip Chiyangwa won the presidency.

The other members of the executive committee were Omega Sibanda and the late Piraishe Mabhena and the late Edzai Kasinauyo.

In March, 2018, Kamambo and Mabhena quit their posts, arguing their mandate had expired, while Machana, Sibanda and Chiyangwa remained in charge of ZIFA.

The elections were held, in December, that year.

This means, according to their constitution, the maximum number of years which one can serve on the ZIFA executive, as either the president or board members, is two terms or eight years, since as they can only be re-elected for “one additional term.”

The association have insisted the election of the new executive committee will only take place in December 2022, after the current leadership have completed their four years, in office.

“Article 38 (1) that the president is elected by the congress for a period of four years and may be re-elected once after the initial term.

“The constitution even states when his mandate begins and when it is supposed to end.

“So, in this case, the election was done in December 2018.

“Four years will be completed in 2022, that’s when the next poll can only take place,” said Gumiro.

Article 38 (1) of the ZIFA constitution addresses the issue of the ZIFA presidency.

“The president shall be elected by the Congress for a period of four years. His mandate shall begin after the end of the Congress which has elected him.

“A president may be re-elected once.”

Traditionally, the calendar year for the ZIFA elections starts in March.

The last elections only took place in December because of a constitutional crisis, which could repeat itself again, next year.

ZIFA earlier this year issued out a statement insisting the polls will only take place in December next year.

The statement, penned by the association’s communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela, said the mandate of the congress will end in December 2022, and not March.

“ZIFA wishes to clarify some misinformation being peddled in some social media circles which suggests that the elective congress of ZIFA is in March 2022,’’ said Gwesela.

“This position is misleading and false as the next ZIFA elections are to be held in December 2022 after the full four-year duration of the current office bearers, as is dictated in our statutes, regarding terms and duration of office bearers.

“There is nowhere in our constitution, as has been suggested in some social media spaces, where it’s said elective congresses are held in March, instead the same statues say office bearers shall be in office for a period of four years.

“Thus, the current office bearers having been ushered in December 2018, shall constitutionally vacate such upon the expiration of the said four years upon which fresh elections shall be held where any interested qualified persons can participate.”

The polls ended up being moved to December 2018 after Chiyangwa insisted he had been voted in for a full four-year term. He argued that he had completed the whole process, including paying the full fees for a prospective ZIFA president, needed for one to be the association’s boss. The Harare property mogul argued he couldn’t understand why he needed to serve just half his term, when the constitution was clear that every president, once elected, should serve for four years.

However, FIFA intervened and said Chiyangwa and his leadership had only come in to complete the mandate of Dube, and his board, which was revoked by the councillors.

There are even suggestions most of the standing councillors might not be eligible, for re-election, in their respective constituencies.

Many of them have already served more than two terms, in their boards and, their constitutions cannot override the ZIFA constitution.