Game-On Reporter
Walter Magaya’s eligibility to stand for the ZIFA presidency has been questioned.
The controversial clergyman has a record of criminal and civil cases, the major highlight being his attempt to sell a drug, Aguma, that he claimed was a cure for HIV and AIDS.
Magaya is one of the nine candidates vying to become the next ZIFA president.
The others are Themba Mlsiwa, Nqobile Magwizi, Farai Jere, Benjani Mwaruwari, Marshall Gore, Martin Kweza, and Twine Phiri.
These candidates will be vetted by a ZIFA Ethics Committee which is expected to reveal the names of the successful candidates on December 23.
It is against the background that a man called J. Chigwedere wrote to the ZIFA Ethics and Integrity Committee Chairperson on Monday, objecting Magaya’s nomination.
“I am writing to formally object to the nomination of Walter Magaya as a candidate for the ZIFA president citing multiple criminal and civil matters that raise serious ethical, legal and integrity concerns about his suitability for this position,” wrote Chigwedere.
Chigwedere also listed a number criminal cases, some of them pending, which he thinks make Magaya unsuitable to be the next ZIFA president.
According to Chigwedere, Magaya is facing charges of tax violation.
The clergyman was also found guilty of contravening the Medicines Control Act in 2018 and was fined US$700.
“The conviction stemmed from his advertisement of a medicine falsely claimed to cure HIV and Aids, an act that endangered public health and demonstrated a disregard for ethical and regulatory standards,” wrote Chigwedere.
According to Chigwedere, Magaya also has a civil matter with Get Bucks Microfinance Bank.
On 9 October, 2024, Honourable Justice Mafusire of the High Court ordered the sale of Magaya’s property at Waterfalls to settle a debt of US$420, 140.72.
Magaya’s football club has also be sanctioned by FIFA for failing to pay three Brazilian players who signed for the team in 2023.
