ZIFA Election Losing Candidate Swallows Humble Pie...

ZIFA Election Losing Candidate Swallows Humble Pie, Concedes Defeat

Gilbert Munetsi

Zim Now Writer

Joyce Kapota, one of five contestants vying for the ZIFA female vice presidency, has conceded defeat with grace, showcasing true sportsmanship and wishing the winners success in their new roles.

Kapota, initially seen as a front-runner due to her impressive resume—including international football administration courses and key roles in top-flight clubs—found the competition steep, ultimately finishing last with just one vote.

The vice-presidential race was won by Loveness Mukura, who secured an overwhelming 43 votes. Other candidates included former women’s football boss Mavis Gumbo, who garnered 26 votes, Winnet Murota with 8, and Patience Mutumwa with 5. Despite the loss, Kapota displayed no signs of bitterness and instead took to social media to express gratitude and optimism for the future.

“I thank all those who supported my candidature. Thank you for all the love and support; I do not take it lightly. We did it independently, with no funding or backing of any sort, but we soldiered through the whole process,” she wrote.

Kapota continued: “Congratulations to all the candidates who made it today. I feel proud to have stood alongside giants in our land. Well done to you all. It was a learning curve, and many worthwhile lessons were learnt. I remain a football administrator and will work tirelessly to improve our Zimbabwean sport. The vision remains to professionalize our football.”

The much-anticipated elections marked the end of the Lincoln Mutasa-led Normalisation Committee’s tenure and ushered in a new era of leadership for ZIFA. Business executive Nqobile Magwizi emerged as the new president, with former Premier Soccer League CEO Kenny Ndebele as his deputy. Other notable contestants who fell short included Omega Sibanda, Peter Dube, Francis Zimunya, and former football great James Takavada.

However, the election process has not been without controversy. A petition circulating widely, authored by unnamed individuals, calls on FIFA to investigate and potentially sanction ZIFA for violating Article 20 of the FIFA Code of Conduct. The statute prohibits gifts or benefits that could create conflicts of interest or influence official decisions.

The petition highlights allegations linked to businessman Wicknell Chivhayo, who reportedly pledged material gifts worth millions if his preferred candidate, Magwizi, won the presidency.

“We, the undersigned readers and supporters of Zimbabwean football, write this petition with grave concern regarding the blatant violations of FIFA’s Code of Ethics by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) and individuals influencing its current electoral process. Specifically, we draw your attention to Article 20, which prohibits offering or accepting gifts or benefits that could influence official activities or decisions,” the petition states.

The document adds: “The actions outlined above represent clear breaches of these provisions. By promising material rewards directly tied to voting behavior, these individuals and ZIFA have undermined the integrity of the election process, potentially jeopardizing the credibility of Zimbabwean football. Failure to address these serious violations will set a dangerous precedent, undermining FIFA’s governance framework and allowing further politicization of football in Zimbabwe. More importantly, it will betray the aspirations of millions of Zimbabwean football fans who believe in the power of the game to unite and inspire beyond politics and corruption.”

As Zimbabwean football enters a new chapter, the spotlight will remain on ZIFA’s leadership and their ability to rebuild the sport’s credibility while addressing allegations of malpractice. For Kapota, her loss may just be the beginning of a renewed commitment to professionalizing and uplifting the beautiful game in Zimbabwe.