Rushwaya denies plans to stand against Mahofa

nowhere to become the most powerful figure in the country’s football administration, Rushwaya told The Zimbabwean that people had wrongly reached the conclusion that she wanted to contest the seat.
“I donated something there and people must have taken it to mean I am campaigning. I am a national leader and have to do that (donate) but people interpret it in their own way.”
Despite Rushwaya’s denial, Zanu (PF) officials in Gutu South and in the national structure said the lady was bracing herself to challenge of Mahofa’s long time stranglehold on the constituency.
Conflicting reports said that the re-drawing of constituency boundaries would create an additional seat – Gutu East, that had not existed before.
“She (Rushwaya) is trying to avoid pre-empting her plans and allowing people to block her, but we are aware of her intention to contest for that seat. She might be forced to consider another one perhaps but will certainly go into the primary elections,” a source said. “Rushwaya has already started splashing money and using her influence to garner people’s support within the party structures.”
Believed by many to be a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), Rushwaya courted controversy after she stayed in a hotel for a long time, raising eyebrows about the source of her funds, with some people alleging she was abusing funds intended for the national soccer team. She became prominent after being appointed by Vice President Joseph Msika, the ZIFA patron, to coordinate fund raising activities for the national teams. – *Next week we will carry an in-depth story on Rushwaya’s rise to power and her involvement in football circles, particularly around the issue of fund raising.