Kamanga impeachment won’t work, says Chipango

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 10:28:40 +0000

By GRACE CHAILE-LESOETSA

IT IS not possible to impeach FAZ president Andrew Kamanga because he is popular among councillors and those calling for such an eventuality are day-dreaming, says former FAZ official Keagan Chipango.

And Chipango advised the soccer legend Kalusha Bwalya to be careful of the people that surround him as some were using his name for personal gain.

He was reacting to the Daily Nation story yesterday that Kamanga had reported Kalusha to CAF, claiming that the former FAZ chief was interfering in the running of football in Zambia with some individuals calling for his impeachment.

“I hope what I have read is not true. This is unfortunate especially that Zambia is again getting back to its glory days.  Kamanga has a four-year mandate and he should be allowed to finish it.

“Kamanga still enjoys popularity, even if today councillors were asked to vote, he would win. The constitution says at least two thirds of the majority is needed to impeach a FAZ chief, so who will meet that requirement if he is enjoying popularity,” he said.

Chipango said he was aware of the money being paid to some people to call Kamanga names and disrupt his work.

He added that the people creating machinations against the FAZ boss were doing so in vain.

“Kalusha should be wary of some individuals around him because some are tarnishing his name. During the elective AGM last year, there were so many pretending to be pro-Kalu but in the night they became pro-Kamanga. I did not believe that some people could betray Kalu in 2016,” he said.

Chipango advised the councillors not to be bought by some selfish individuals to block the reduction of the electoral college.

“FIFA has given Zambia the final warning to reduce the electoral college to around 80 or risk being banned. Let us put Zambia first before personal interests. We have started scoring results with the boys qualifying to the World Cup and that should continue,” he said.

Meanwhile, councillors from Kasama who spoke on condition of anonymity described Kamanga’s decision to write to CAF over his predecessor as petty.

“I still feel Kamanga is scared of Kalusha because the soccer legend has achieved so much. If he is not intimidated by him, why write to FIFA. Kalusha is a CAF member and has the right to be part of Hayatou’s delegation,” the source said.

The Northern Province Amateur Football Association (NOPAFA) is among those calling for Kamanga’s impeachment.

FAZ is on March 25 in Lusaka scheduled to hold its annual general meeting. On the agenda is the adoption of the draft constitution and the suspension of FAZ vice president Richard Kazala and executive committee member Blackwell Siwale for abuse of authority.