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Prophet Magaya fights O' Level demand
4 hrs ago | Views
ZIFA presidential aspirant Walter Magaya has officially lodged a challenge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), disputing the demand for an O' Level certificate for candidates vying for the association's president and vice-president positions.
Magaya, who admits he did not submit an O' Level certificate, argues that he has superior qualifications that were deposited with the electoral committee. His disqualification from contesting the January 25 ZIFA elections was based on the failure to provide an O' Level certificate.
The cleric has also approached the High Court, seeking the suspension of elections until his matter with CAS is resolved. Yesterday, Magaya, along with his legal team, appeared in court, where High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi acknowledged the urgency of the matter and scheduled a hearing for Friday.
The ZIFA elections are facing multiple challenges, as Temba Mliswa, another aspirant barred from contesting, has also taken the association to court. His case will be heard tomorrow after it was deemed urgent.
At CAS, Magaya is seeking to overturn the decision to disqualify him, urging the court to establish a tribunal to consider his appeal. His appeal asserts that the electoral committee misinterpreted the phrase "minimum of five O' Level or equivalent."
"It was concluded that the appellant did not meet the necessary criteria to proceed as a candidate, specifically due to the non-submission of his Ordinary Level certificates," Magaya's statement of appeal read.
Magaya contends that the provision requiring O' Level certificates is flawed and discriminatory, arguing that it unjustly excludes administrators and former players from participating in football administration.
"The appellant seeks a determination that a proper and purposive interpretation of the statutes supports the view that his qualifications, which include a higher certificate in Marketing, a national diploma in Marketing, and a higher certificate in Theology (Cum laude), exceed the O' Level certificate requirement," his appeal states.
Magaya's legal representative, Tavonga Makamure of Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, expressed confidence in their client's case.
"We think we have a very good case because our client has done so much in football and we just want him to get a chance to contest," Makamure said.
Magaya, Mliswa, Farai Jere, and Benjani Mwaruwari were all barred from contesting by the electoral committee. Mwaruwari has also filed a case at CAS.
Currently, Martin Kweza, Twine Phiri, Marshall Gore, Philemon Machana, Nqobile Magwizi, and Makwinji Soma Phiri have been cleared to run in the elections and are actively campaigning.
Magaya, who admits he did not submit an O' Level certificate, argues that he has superior qualifications that were deposited with the electoral committee. His disqualification from contesting the January 25 ZIFA elections was based on the failure to provide an O' Level certificate.
The cleric has also approached the High Court, seeking the suspension of elections until his matter with CAS is resolved. Yesterday, Magaya, along with his legal team, appeared in court, where High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi acknowledged the urgency of the matter and scheduled a hearing for Friday.
The ZIFA elections are facing multiple challenges, as Temba Mliswa, another aspirant barred from contesting, has also taken the association to court. His case will be heard tomorrow after it was deemed urgent.
At CAS, Magaya is seeking to overturn the decision to disqualify him, urging the court to establish a tribunal to consider his appeal. His appeal asserts that the electoral committee misinterpreted the phrase "minimum of five O' Level or equivalent."
"It was concluded that the appellant did not meet the necessary criteria to proceed as a candidate, specifically due to the non-submission of his Ordinary Level certificates," Magaya's statement of appeal read.
Magaya contends that the provision requiring O' Level certificates is flawed and discriminatory, arguing that it unjustly excludes administrators and former players from participating in football administration.
"The appellant seeks a determination that a proper and purposive interpretation of the statutes supports the view that his qualifications, which include a higher certificate in Marketing, a national diploma in Marketing, and a higher certificate in Theology (Cum laude), exceed the O' Level certificate requirement," his appeal states.
Magaya's legal representative, Tavonga Makamure of Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, expressed confidence in their client's case.
"We think we have a very good case because our client has done so much in football and we just want him to get a chance to contest," Makamure said.
Magaya, Mliswa, Farai Jere, and Benjani Mwaruwari were all barred from contesting by the electoral committee. Mwaruwari has also filed a case at CAS.
Currently, Martin Kweza, Twine Phiri, Marshall Gore, Philemon Machana, Nqobile Magwizi, and Makwinji Soma Phiri have been cleared to run in the elections and are actively campaigning.
Source - newsday
