HARARE—Zimbabwe’s women’s football stands at a crossroads, its future now pressed deeply into the hands of 16 club delegates who, tomorrow, will elect a new leadership for the Zimbabwe Women’s Premier Soccer League (ZWPL). Against this backdrop, Chido Chizondo—one of the most recognizable and respected administrators in the men’s and women’s game—has officially put her name forward as chairperson, staking her reputation on an “ambitious manifesto” to transform the women’s league from an afterthought into a headline act.
The 2025 ZWPL elections, set for July 25, are the first under a new ZIFA Electoral Code, with a roadmap designed for “transparency, integrity, and fairness” in football governance—a radical departure from the opaque, crisis-prone administrations of the past. The chairperson, vice-chairperson, and five board members will be selected by the league’s 16 clubs, giving each female delegate a direct vote.
Timeline: The Making of a Contender
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Childhood Roots: Chizondo’s love for the game was born on the rough pitches of Zvishavane, inspired by her father, a footballer of local renown.
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Media Liaison, FC Platinum: She cut her administrative teeth as the media liaison for one of Zimbabwe’s biggest clubs, FC Platinum, earning respect for her professionalism and communication skills.
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Corporate Communications and PR: With over a decade in corporate communications and public relations—notably at FC Platinum Holdings—she brought a business-minded approach to football administration.
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Advocate for Women’s Football: Chizondo has been a consistent voice for gender equality in sponsorship deals and for the professionalization of the women’s league—topics that resonate with a new generation of players and executives.
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2025 ZWPL Chairperson Bid: She enters the race with a vision to professionalize the league, attract bigger sponsors, and lift the profile of women’s football beyond the margins of Zimbabwean sport.
The ZWPL is currently being led by an interim committee, appointed last year after the ZIFA Normalisation Committee swept in to steady a listing ship. he last confirmed chairperson was Miriam Sibanda, elected more than a decade ago.
The ZWPL chairperson role is often a part-time, voluntary, or honorific position, and it is not uncommon for football administrators in Zimbabwe (and across Africa) to hold concurrent roles at club and league levels. Unless explicitly stated by Chizondo or FC Platinum, there is no formal or informal declaration of resignation from her club post.
