25/12/2024
: In a recent development, former Zimbabwean footballer Benjani Mwaruwari has expressed his dissatisfaction with the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Normalisation Committee’s decision to exclude his name from the list of eligible candidates for the upcoming ZIFA presidential election.
Mwaruwari’s legal representatives, in a letter dated December 23, 2024, addressed to the Chairman of the ZIFA Normalisation Committee, Mr. Lincoln Mutasa, highlighted their client’s concerns.
The letter, which was sent at 09:13 hours on December 24, 2024, outlines Mwaruwari’s belief that he meets the eligibility criteria stipulated in the ZIFA statutes of 2024. Despite this, his name was omitted from the published list of candidates.
The letter emphasizes that Mwaruwari was not formally notified of the reasons for his exclusion, which has left him unable to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
His legal team argues that this procedural oversight has caused significant prejudice against Mwaruwari, who is now in a state of uncertainty during the holiday season.
Mwaruwari’s lawyers have requested an urgent response from the ZIFA Normalisation Committee, seeking a detailed explanation for their decision.
They have asked for this information to be provided within twelve hours to enable Mwaruwari to mount a timely and informed appeal.
