Zimbabwe FA President Charged With Bribery

Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president, Felton Kanambo, yesterday appeared in court charged with offering bribes to councilors during the 2018 elections.

The association boss appeared at Harare Magistrate Court where he faced charges of offering cash to 11 councilors to win the elections which propelled him to become the leader of domestic football.

Kamambo won the poll in December 2018 after getting 35 votes dethroning former ZIFA boss Philip Chiyangwa who garnered 24 votes.

His lawyer rose to his feet asking the court to furnish him with all the necessary documents to help him prepare his defence.

According to the charge sheet, Kanambo’s campaign manager, Robert Matoka allegedly transferred cash to councilors using Ecocash payment platform, two weeks before the elections.

More than ten councilors received in their mobile money wallets various amounts totaling $8,110.

Investigations into the case were launched in February where Kanambo was questioned by Zimbabwean police on allegations bordering on election bribery.

But the football boss told police that he made payments to the councilors because he was refunding them money they had used coming for Congress.

Five councilors failed to give recorded statements but are expected to later appear in court for the historical case of Zimbabwean football.