Sports / Soccer
Zifa Presidential candidates threatened by dark forces
17 Nov 2015 at 18:15hrs | Views
The Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mkhosini Hlongwane, has issued a statement on the development s pertaining to the ZIFA elections to be held next month.
Below is the statement in full:
"We have received with dismay news of threats against certain candidates who are participating in the ZIFA board elections slated for the 5th of December 2015.
In light of the news, Government would like to reiterate the following:
1. The dissolution of the ZIFA Board on the 3rd of October 2015 has given the football community an opportunity for a new lease of life under a new dispensation. This opportunity must not be squandered.
2. All those interested in partaking in the ZIFA Board elections must be enabled to do so under the same electoral atmospherics.
3. Any threats against any candidates who have been cleared by ZIFA to stand in the election by anyone, be they participants in the election or not, will not be tolerated and condoned.
4. The transitional ZIFA organization has a duty of making sure that it delivers to the football community and to Zimbabwe at large, a credible election process that has the buy in of the football community and the millions of football loving Zimbabweans.
5. The Ministry of Sport and Recreation suggests that all ZIFA presidential candidates be subjected to a public debate, live on radio and/or television, to afford them a chance to articulate themselves on their manifestos. This will also assist the candidates to tolerate one another and to differ with dignity.
6. Government's intention is to remain as neutral as possible throughout this election process but a line in sand will be drawn if unorthodox means and ways are used to disadvantage ANY candidate at the expense of others.
7. Government would like to reiterate that the ZIFA Board elections must necessarily usher in a new dispensation that unleashes football's potential so that this very important economic sector begins to contribute to the economy of our country."
Hon Makhosini Hlongwane
Minister of Sport and Recreation
Below is the statement in full:
"We have received with dismay news of threats against certain candidates who are participating in the ZIFA board elections slated for the 5th of December 2015.
In light of the news, Government would like to reiterate the following:
1. The dissolution of the ZIFA Board on the 3rd of October 2015 has given the football community an opportunity for a new lease of life under a new dispensation. This opportunity must not be squandered.
2. All those interested in partaking in the ZIFA Board elections must be enabled to do so under the same electoral atmospherics.
4. The transitional ZIFA organization has a duty of making sure that it delivers to the football community and to Zimbabwe at large, a credible election process that has the buy in of the football community and the millions of football loving Zimbabweans.
5. The Ministry of Sport and Recreation suggests that all ZIFA presidential candidates be subjected to a public debate, live on radio and/or television, to afford them a chance to articulate themselves on their manifestos. This will also assist the candidates to tolerate one another and to differ with dignity.
6. Government's intention is to remain as neutral as possible throughout this election process but a line in sand will be drawn if unorthodox means and ways are used to disadvantage ANY candidate at the expense of others.
7. Government would like to reiterate that the ZIFA Board elections must necessarily usher in a new dispensation that unleashes football's potential so that this very important economic sector begins to contribute to the economy of our country."
Hon Makhosini Hlongwane
Minister of Sport and Recreation
Source - Makhosini Hlongwane
