Rushwaya dubbed “The Iron Lady of Football” during her tenure at Zifa before being kicked out after an investigation placed her at the centre of a match-fixing scandal, was trounced in the Zanu PF primary elections by Berita Chikwama in Gutu East constituency.
Chikwama however went on to lose to MDC-T’s Rensome Makamure.
Asked if she was still interested in politics Rushwaya last week said she was no longer interested in running for political office.
“I am back to square one,” she said. “I no longer harbour any political ambitions, whether in Gutu East or South, or anywhere.”
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Rushwaya, who according to Zifa may face arrest for alleged match fixing, said she has turned to God.
“I am turning to God and becoming a born-again Henrietta. I intend to go for a pastoral training at a Theological College,” said Rushwaya.
The former Zifa boss said she was now supporting Dr Paul Chimedza whom she said was campaigning in Gutu South.
Rushwaya is among a host of the so-called “Young Turks” in Zanu PF who plunged into politics hoping to revive the party’s waning fortunes but most of them failed to make it in the treacherous waters of politics.
Among them are Chimedza, who is still determined to claim a constituency in Masvingo province, and musician Elias Musakwa.
Chimedza, the Gutu South parliamentary hopeful, recently confirmed his political ambitions and expressed optimism that he will bring back the seat to Zanu PF. Sources said Rushwaya’s bid for a political comeback suffered a major blow when she was disowned by the empowerment lobby group, Affirmative Action Group (AAG) after an announcement that she was set to become the organisation’s vice-president.
Her image was also tainted by reports that she was holding on to vehicles donated to Zifa by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) during her tenure.
But Rushwaya argued that the vehicles were donated to her and not the football association.
