Sun, 29 Jan 2017 11:04:46 +0000
By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA
EMBATTLED Zambia Boxing Federation president Thomas Chileshe received the shock of his life when the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) disqualified him from re- contesting the position at the elective annual general meeting in Kabwe yesterday because he did not meet the requirements as per ZBF Constitution.
As if that was not bad enough acting ZBF vice-president Kennedy Mvula fell victim of violence after some irate councillors unleashed punches while dragging him outside Nyaka Lodge for unknown reasons
After receiving the unexpected news, Chileshe immediately left Nyaka Lodge Hall where the AGM was being held and disappeared. His general secretary Caesar Musukwa followed suit shortly after.
The Midlands, Copperbelt and Southern Province Amateur associations nominee Kennedy Mubita was also disqualified from contesting the top post and was forced to vie for the vice-presidency post which he won by 25 votes.
NSCZ then cancelled elections for the position of president and requested the associations to submit new nominations.
NSCZ board member Smart Mwitwa explained that Mubita and Chileshe were disqualified from contesting the presidency because they did not meet the requirements as per ZBF Constitution.
According to article 16.4, a presidential candidate must be supported in writing by at least ten other provincial clubs, however Chileshe did not meet that requirement.
In the case of Mubita, he failed to qualify because the Electoral College agreed to follow the list submitted before the 2016 meeting was cancelled due to a court injunction.
In the 2016 list, the three associations backed Jack Mbewe for the president, but he was disqualified for failing to meet article 16.2 which says a candidate must have a record of serving in the immediate past provincial executive committee for a full four years.
In election results, Mubita won the vice-president post after he polled 25 votes while his rival Austins Hambulo got seven.
Bright Chomba from Copperbelt scooped the position of general secretary getting 30 votes against the then incumbent Musukwa with only got one vote. Black Mantele amassed 29votes to win the post of vice general secretary while the other contestants Kasonde Sibwinza and Morgan Mwansa got one vote each. Philimon Musonda whitewashed his contenders winning the treasurer’s post by 32 votes while his rivals Joseph Siame and Jimmy Mwape got zero each.
Mwitwa declared the elections free and fair and announced that Mubita will act as president till elections were held at a date to be announced.
