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 ZIFA elections by promising vehicles and financial incentives to voters, an act perceived by many as vote-buying. Chivayo denied the allegations, stating that his support for ZIFA was independent and not politically motivated.[3]
In January 2025, Chivayo gifted Nqobile Magwizi a vehicle costing R3.2 million following his election as ZIFA president. In February 2026, Chivayo again gifted a luxury vehicle to Magwizi, this time costing R4 million, stating that Magwizi had restored structure and transparency to the organisation, and that the Zimbabwe national football team had been 'fully funded and adequately catered for' throughout their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, with 'no complaints about their welfare or conditions', and that this was a 'rare occurrence' in Zimbabwe's footballing history.[4]
ZIFA regions
ZIFA has four Regions made up of tenProvinces:
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".[5]
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.[5] She was also found guilty of requesting a loan of $103,000 from Zimbabwe's sports commission, an amount that is now unaccounted for.[5]
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.[5]
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[5]
References
↑CAF and FIFA, 50 years of African football - the DVD, 2009
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