MWALE

By SANDRA MWILA-
THE Zambia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZPBWCB) has with immediate effect relieved Times of Zambia columnist, Simon Mwale off his duties as board secretary citing conflict of interest.
Mwale, who writes the Ring Talk which comes out on Saturday’s in the Times of Zambia, was appointed board secretary on February 1 on a three-year period taking over from Ben Saili, who resigned in February last year.
During a full board meeting held on June 18, the board unanimously decided to terminate the services of Mwale after noting a number of short comings including conflict of interest owing to his Ring Talk column.
This is contained in a letter signed by ZPBWCB chairperson, Nelson Sapi addressed to Mwale dated June 23 and also made available to the TIMES.
The board expressed sadness in the manner Mwale has been expressing himself in the column saying the related articles subjected the board to ridicule.
“The other notable sad development was on how you have been coming out in your articles on issues related to boxing, some of them have subjected the name of the board to some form of ridicule as discussed during the meeting.
It is against this background that the board has decided to relieve you off your duties as board secretary to avoid the conflict of interest. I have arranged that you hand over the office back to board member Christopher Mulenga on Thursday June 26, at 10:00 hours,” the letter read.
The board further said Mwale failed to provide the Mwenya Musenge Boxing Promotions with the necessary guidance, monitoring and supervision to enable the promoter successfully host the tournament.
“It is public domain that the board has passed through an embarrassing period over the last month or so regarding to how our secretariat performed towards the preparatory works in helping Mwenya Musenge Boxing Promotion to successfully host their boxing tournament.
It is also on record that during our post-mortem meeting held on Wednesday June 18, a number of issues highlighted grey areas were as result of the board failing to provide the promoter with the much needed guidance, monitoring and supervision to enable him successfully host the tournament,” the letter read.
Meanwhile, Mwale has thanked Sapi and the board for entrusting him with the responsibility of secretary saying he enjoyed a good working relationship with the chairperson and does not hold any grudges.
Mwale, however, wondered what had gone wrong especially that he had a cordial working relationship with chairperson saying that the decision to relieve him of his duties would have been beyond Sapi.
“I want to thank Mr Sapi and the board for thinking of appointing me to take up the position and I hold no hard feelings. I did not lobby or campaign for the position but was approached by the board and even on the column I had asked them if I would be allowed to write.
I was told I could writing the column and so that appointment was not conditional but little did I realise that it will make some people unhappy. I would like to thank Mr Sapi for his personal support rendered to me and wish him well as he steers the board,” he said.