Aspiring ZIFA Vice President, Gift Banda has appeared at Western Commonage Court today to face allegations of forging an Ordinary Level certificate.
The 54-year-old former Bulawayo deputy mayor is accused of presenting a Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) O-Level certificate purportedly earned in 1986 at Mpopoma High School. However, at that time, the school only offered Cambridge examinations. ZIMSEC was established a decade later, in 1996, casting doubt on the authenticity of the document.
Banda’s defense counsel argued that the charges were baseless, with no evidence directly linking their client to the alleged forgery. The state did not oppose bail, and Banda was subsequently granted bail of US$500.
Gift Banda’s arrest comes after he expressed his intention to contest in the ZIFA elections scheduled for early next year. According to election requirements, candidates must provide proof of holding at least five Ordinary Level passes. Allegations suggest that Banda may not meet this criterion.
Banda’s case is set to continue as legal proceedings unfold. Meanwhile, ZIFA’s normalization committee will oversee the vetting of all candidates, ensuring adherence to the election requirements ahead of the January 2025 polls.
This development has added another layer of drama to the already contentious ZIFA elections, where questions of integrity and compliance are increasingly in the spotlight.
