HARARE – Tycoon preacher Walter Magaya’s spirited bid to seek reinstatement as a presidential candidate in this weekend’s ZIFA election has hit a brick wall after the High Court threw out his appeal against disqualification.
The Yadah Stars owner and businessman was removed from the list of candidates vying for the country’s top football job by the ZIFA ethics committee in December last year after failing the integrity test which required him, among other things, to submit his Ordinary Level certificate with five passes.
He filed a High Court challenge arguing that he was irregularly disqualified after submitting certificates proving qualifications in Marketing and Theology.
Through his lawyers, Magaya argued his credentials in his tertiary education studies were in fact superior to the O’ Level threshold prescribed under the ZIFA rules.
High Court judge Tawanda Chitapi however ruled the cleric should have simply submitted his Ordinary Level certificate as required as opposed burdening the court with submissions which lacked merit.
“Just for the avoidance of doubt, if one relies on a diploma, the issue is not that a diploma is higher than O’ Level. The applicant would be required to produce an O’ Level certificate even if he holds a PhD,” said the judge.
“In the present matter, the applicant has been coy in disclosing further information regarding his qualifications to correct the committee’s decision.
“The challenge by the applicant cannot succeed. His application is dismissed. Each party to pay its costs.”
The PHD Ministries founder was elbowed out of the race in December last year together with outgoing Premier Soccer League chairman Farai Jere, Warriors’ legend Benjani Mwaruwari, and ex-Norton MP Temba Mliswa after failing a ZIFA integrity test.
The disqualifications followed a rigorous screening process led by a committee chaired by former Harare Mayor and lawyer Muchadeyi Masunda.
The ZIFA Normalisation Committee released the final list of eligible candidates, narrowing the presidential race to six contenders: Marshall Gore, Philemon Machana, Nqobile Magwizi, Martin Kweza, Twine Phiri, and Makwinji Phiri.
