Zimbabwe Football Association
| CAF | |
|---|---|
| Short name | ZIFA |
| Founded |
|
| Headquarters | Harare |
| FIFA affiliation | 1965 |
| CAF affiliation | 1980 |
| COSAFA affiliation | 1997 |
| President | Nqobile Magwizi |
| Website | www |
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is the governing body of football in Zimbabwe. It is responsible for organising national football competitions in Zimbabwe and managing the Zimbabwe national football teams.
The current ZIFA was founded in 1979. It has been affiliated with FIFA since 1965 and has been a member of the CAF since 1980.
In October 2015, Zimbabwe Football Association President, Cuthbert Dube, stepped down after five years in charge. During his tenure, the organisation's debt rose to $6 million and national teams struggled repeatedly to fulfil away assignments due to lack of funds. Dube faced a vote of no confidence at a meeting prior to his resignation.[2]
2025 to present
In 2025, businessman Wicknell Chivayo faced criticism for allegedly attempting to influence the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) presidential election by publicly promising vehicles and financial incentives, including a US$200,000 Toyota Land Cruiser for his preferred candidate Nqobile Magwizi, brand-new cars for ZIFA councillors and a multi‑million‑dollar sponsorship package conditional on Magwizi's victory.[3][4][5] Critics argued that these pledges amounted to vote-buying under the FIFA Code of Ethics.[6] Chivayo denied the allegations, insisting that his support for ZIFA under Magwizi's leadership did not constitute vote-buying and emphasising that, as a private businessman, he was not bound by the FIFA Code of Ethics.[7][8]
In January 2025, following Magwizi's election as ZIFA president, Chivayo announced that a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 Series valued at about R3.2 million (approximately US$200,000) had been purchased for the new ZIFA head.[9][10]
In February 2026, Chivayo stated that he had bought a 2026 Range Rover Sport D350 Autobiography Limited Edition worth about R4 million for Magwizi and invited him to collect it from a Harare dealership, praising him for what he described as restoring structure and transparency at ZIFA and for ensuring that the Zimbabwe national football team was fully funded and adequately catered for during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, which he called a “rare occurrence” in Zimbabwean football.[11][12] Subsequent reports, citing the FIFA Code of Ethics, noted that Magwizi was unlikely to accept the vehicle because accepting such a high-value gift from a football benefactor could breach regulations on gifts to officials, and that he had reportedly declined the offer.[13][14]
ZIFA regions
ZIFA has four Regions made up of ten Provinces:
- ZIFA Central Region (Provinces: Matebeleland South, Midlands)
- ZIFA Eastern Region (Provinces: Manicaland, Masvingo, Mashonaland East)
- ZIFA Northern Region (Provinces: Harare, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West)
- ZIFA Southern Region (Provinces: Bulawayo, Matebeleland North)
Unauthorised matches allegation
In October 2010, Henrietta Rushwaya, the Chief Executive of the ZIFA, was sacked after being found guilty by the Association's disciplinary body on charges of "conduct inconsistent with her duties, mismanagement and insubordination".[15]
Rushwaya was found guilty of sending the national team to play unauthorised matches in Asia in 2009. Her sacking followed her suspension in July 2010 on suspicion of fixing matches in a Malaysian tournament.[15] She was also found guilty of requesting a loan of $103,000 from Zimbabwe's sports commission, an amount that is now unaccounted for.[15]
The national team's matches against Thailand, Syria and a Malaysian club were accepted without the permission of ZIFA's Board or Zimbabwe's Sports Commission, which must authorise foreign trips taken by Zimbabwe teams. Rushwaya also allowed the former Zimbabwe champions Monomotapa to go to Malaysia in 2009 masquerading as the national team of Zimbabwe.[15]
Both tours are suspected of being set up by betting syndicates, a report by the Forum for African Investigative Reporters stated in September 2010.
Rushwaya was acquitted after a fully contested trial and also due to lack of incriminating evidence. Some theorists allege that her prosecution was a conspiracy linked to ZIFA President Cuthbert Dube[15]
References
- ^ CAF and FIFA, 50 years of African football - the DVD, 2009
- ^ "Zimbabwe FA president Cuthbert Dube steps down". BBC. 3 October 2015.
- ^ "Chivayo in vote buying scandal as he pledges cars to ZIFA councillors". ZimLive. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Chivayo in Zifa presidential race vote manipulation scandal". Bulawayo24. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "ZIFA Elections Tarnished By Chivayo Money, Govt Interference". ZimEye. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Chivayo in Zifa Presidential race vote manipulation scandal". Bulawayo24. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Wicknell Chivayo Denies ZIFA Vote-Buying Allegations, Calls Petition "Baseless"". iHarare. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Chivayo Denies Influencing ZIFA Election Results". Bindura Eye. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Wicknell Chivayo Gifts Luxury Vehicle to ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi". Gambakwe Media. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Wicknell Chivayo Gifts Luxury Vehicle to ZIFA President Nqobile Magwizi". Ground News. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ Madyauta, Terry (2 February 2026). "Businessman gifts R4 million brand-new vehicle to ZIFA boss". FARPost. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Chivayo withholds US$250000 AFCON bonus amid match-fixing allegations, gifts ZIFA president Range Rover". NewZimbabwe.com. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "FIFA statutes bar Magwizi from accepting US$250 000 Range Rover from Chivayo". Nehanda Radio. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "Wicknell Chivayo's US$250000 Range Rover blunder". Zimbabwe Now. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d e "Zimbabwe FA chief executive sacked over unauthorised matches". The Guardian. 26 October 2010.