I HAVE tried for some time to restrain myself from giving my personal views on next weekend’s Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) elections.
But recent events leading to the ZAAA elections deserve a comment.
While I am not privy to what the ZAAA constitution stipulates on the eligibility of candidates for the executive committee positions, I was shocked that all four candidates, who had filed in nominations to challenge incumbent president Elias Mpondela, were disqualified.
I don’t understand how all but Mpondela are not conversant with the ZAAA constitution.?The nominations of former world 400 metres hurdles champion Samuel Matete, Jonathan Chipalo, Christopher Manda and Judith Chaongopa were declared invalid due to various reasons.
Was this just by coincidence or ZAAA wanted their long-serving president, Mpondela not to face any opposition??This matter really begs for answers.
For example, Matete’s candidature was annulled by the ZAAA executive for allegedly having his nomination written on an unofficial form and signed by an unauthorised club official.
ZAAA also claimed Matete was not a member of Nkana Athletics Club in Kitwe but the retired sprinter disputed the grounds and opted to take up the matter with the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ).?Nkana is also said to have had already endorsed Mpondela.
In Chipalo’s case, ZAAA indicated that he was not a member of the association as he formed a parallel Zambia Athletics Association (ZAA).?Chipalo is also said to have dragged ZAAA to a court of law and that the club which nominated his candidature, Higher Ground was not an affiliate of the Lusaka Province Athletics Area Board (LPAAB).
On Manda, it was alleged that he ceased to be an active member some time back and that Mufulira who nominated him, had already endorsed Mpondela’s candidature while Chaongopa’s papers were said to have been signed by a non LPAAB member – Ministry of Finance – and that her nomination had no seconder.
Incredible!?Former runner, Carol Mokola, who was eyeing the ZAAA vice-presidency, also saw her papers thrown out after it was allegedly discovered that her club, Young Carol Mokola was fictitious.?With the elimination of Mokola, the race for the vice-presidency will be contested by Godwin Chenda and George Goma.
I hope SCZ will step into the ZAAA ‘mess’ and put the record straight before the Saturday elections.
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