Published: 16 December 2018

FORMER Mhangura player Felton Kamambo was elected the new Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president on Sunday after beating the incumbent Philip Chiyangwa during the local football mother body's elective annual general meeting in Harare.

Kamambo, an underdog heading into the polls, amassed 35 votes against Chiyangwa's 24 which, according to the constitution, would not have been enough to secure the outright win as the margin of victory fell short of the two thirds majority.

Chiyangwa however, withdrew his candidature before a re-run was effected, paving the way for Kamambo to be declared the new Zifa president.

Kamambo's victory brought the curtain down to Chiyangwa's tumultuous two-year reign at the helm of Zimbabwean football since taking over from Cuthbert Dube in 2016.

The poll outcome also means Chiyangwa loses his Cosafa presidency and his role as vice-chairman of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) AfricaCup of Nations (Afcon) Committee.

Kamambo, the former Mhangura player and Silo United chairman, worked under Chiyangwa's stewardship in the board from 2015 until February this year before he quit the executive committee, arguing that the Zifa board's term of office had lapsed.

Meanwhile, a new vice president was also elected during the elections after the former Southern Region chairman Gift Banda beat the incumbent deputy president Omega Sibanda by 37 votes to 22.

The quartet of Sugar Chagonda, Philemon Machana, Chamu Chiwanza and Brighton Malandule claimed the four vacant positions on the Zifa board while Mlungisi Moyo and Stanley Chapeta fell by the wayside.  

Women's football boss Barbara Chikosi and Premier Soccer League chairman Farai Jere will also take up their positions on the Zifa executive committee.

The Zifa elections were be monitored by the Fifa executive committee member and Malawi FootballAssociation president Walter Nyamilandu, who was accompanied by two other Fifa officials Luca Nicola and Solomon Mudege.
- newzimbabwe

You might also want to read this

• Fifa declines to endorse Chiyangwa, Sibanda bans
• Chiyangwa accused of destabilising Zifa
• Chiyangwa looked crestfallen
• Fifa exposes Chiyangwa, allow Kamambo, Banda to contest Zifa polls
• Chiyangwa evictees seek recourse
• Chiyangwa clones customers' debit cards, siphons thousands
• Chiyangwa donates
• Chinhoyi still misses Chiyangwa
• Chiyangwa exposes chiefs
• Zanu-PF women want Chiyangwa arrested