Magaya loses case against ZIFA, judge says O levels “issue cannot just be resolved by prayer”

HARARE – “It is my view that its not clear whether the applicant holds any O level. He didn’t provide evidence that his diplomas are equivalent to O Level. The issue cannot just be resolved by prayer.”

Those were some of the words that High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi said as he dismissed Prophet Walter Magaya’s case against the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) on Thursday in Harare.

Things did not go well but south for the football enthusiast who was contesting that he must be allowed to run in Saturday’s election following his recent disqualification by the ZIFA electoral committee after his failure to submit an O Level certificate which was a key requirement.

The former Zimbabwe national teams benefactor suffered a major setback after the High Court dismissed his case.

Justice Chitapi ruled that the Yadah FC president failed to provide evidence of holding an O Level certificate, a key requirement for eligibility to run in the poll.

Magaya had argued that his diplomas, including one from the University of South Africa (Unisa), were equivalent to an O Level qualification.

However, his argument did not hold water with judge Chitapi quashing it.

“The applicant should be open and say these are the documents I would produce had I been granted the 7 days notice.

“If he had provided his O level the court would have changed the decision by ZIFA,” Chitapi told the court.

Magaya was seeking to stop the upcoming election until his matter has been resolved.

With the dismissal of Magaya’s case, the ZIFA elections are set to proceed as planned on Saturday at the Rainbow Towers in Harare.