By SANDRA MWILA –

ZAMBIA Martial Arts Federation (ZMAF) president Simba Mangaba has been dragged to the Police for failing to settle K6,000.
Pressure is also mounting on the ZMAF chief as clubs have petitioned the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) to have him removed as president for allegedly failing to run the affairs of the federation which they claim has been turned into a family affair.
Mangaba, in June borrowed K4,000 from karate coach John Ngulube to be used towards hosting of the Zone Six Karate Championship held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) in Lusaka with K2,000 to be paid as interest.
According to the letter of agreement dated June 18, 2014 and signed by Mangaba, his brother Munyarazi and Nayombe Muliyunda from the marketing department, it was agreed that the money will be paid to Ngulube within 14 days, failure to which karate mats will be given to Ngulube as surety.
But Ngulube in an interview yesterday said that Mangaba said efforts to get back his money from Mangaba after the 14 days elapsed proved futile, prompting him to report the matter to Chawama Police.
“Efforts to get in touch with Mangaba failed and I decided to go to the venue where the Zone Six Games were held so that I could get the mats promised to me as surety. But I was shocked when I was told that the mats were being held as surety by management after ZMAF failed to settle K30,240,” he said.
And a docket from Chawama Police indicated that Mangaba is being investigated for theft and obtaining money by false pretences.
The police have, in a letter dated October 14, also asked the Ministry of Sport chief sports development officer Raphael Mulenga to provide information if the matter was brought to his attention and state the outcome.
“I wish to report and confirm to your office that the police are investigating the offence reported by John Ngulube to the effect that three officials representing ZMAF obtained K4,000 and promised they will pay him back his money with interest of K2,000 and that the money will be remitted from Ministry of Sports and Sports Council,” states the letter signed by deputy inspector second criminal investigations officer Munangisa.
But Mangaba denied obtaining money by false pretences, saying Ngulube will be paid back his money despite the association facing challenges and that he has appeared at the police station.
Mangaba also denied owing Mulungushi International Conference Centre K30,240, saying the amount due was only K4,700 for the food for the athletes on the last day of the championship.
In a petition to the SCZ, the Karate Association of Zambia accused Mangaba of using the ZMAF name to obtain K10,600 from the Zambia National Service but did not give Ngulube and Joe Kashweka ahead of the Kyokushin Championship held in South Africa.