ZIMBABWE’s bid to regain influence in regional football faces a key test on 17 May when ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi stands for election at the COSAFA Annual General Meeting in Harare.
Magwizi is seeking a seat on COSAFA’s executive committee, a move that could return Zimbabwe to the centre of decision making in Southern African football.
The meeting, to be held in Harare, will bring together football leaders from across the region and usher in new leadership at COSAFA.
The presidency has already been decided, with Botswana’s Oabile Tariq Babitseng set to take over unopposed from Angola’s Artur de Almeida e Silva.
Attention will turn to the race for four executive committee positions, where Magwizi is one of five candidates.
He faces Lesotho’s Lijane Nthunya, Namibia’s Robert Shimooshili, South Africa’s Linda Zwane and Eswatini’s Peter Simelane in what is expected to be a close contest decided by secret ballot.
For Zimbabwe, the election presents an opportunity to restore its influence within COSAFA, five years after former ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa ended his term as regional leader in 2021.
Magwizi’s bid comes as his administration seeks to rebuild and stabilise the domestic game.
COSAFA confirmed that all candidates have passed eligibility and integrity checks ahead of the vote.
“The election will be conducted by secret ballot under the supervision of the Electoral Committee,” the regional body said.
Zambia’s Brenda Kunda has secured the reserved women’s seat unopposed.
