Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) says it will soon be searching for a new chief executive officer after the incumbent, Yvonne Manwa leaves office at the expiry of her contract this month.

Manwa was appointed to the post by the ZIFA Normalisation Committee, which was appointed by FIFA in 2023, and during her tenure, the local football mother body recorded several achievements, including the launch of a Women’s Football Strategy (2025-2028).

“Ms Manwa has provided steady and purposeful leadership at a pivotal time of reform and rebuilding for Zimbabwean football. Under her leadership, ZIFA recorded several major achievements including the development and adoption of a new Constitution, the successful conduct of electoral processes that ushered in the current Executive Committee, the facilitation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) and the seamless return of Zimbabwe to the full international football participation, punctuated by the senior men’s national team’s qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025,” ZIFA said in a statement on Monday.

ZIFA added that after her successful leadership period of renewal at the association, Manwa decided to pave the way for a successor, who would lead Zimbabwean football into the next phase of growth.

The association expressed its sincere appreciation for Manwa’s dedicated service, strategic insight, and contribution to the rebuilding of football structures in Zimbabwe.

“We are encouraged that her expertise will remain within the football community. She will continue to support the sport in a consultancy capacity, focusing on women’s leadership and organisational development within the region, drawing on the valuable experience at ZIFA,” it said.

New Ziana