By GRACE CHAILE –
SPORTS Minister, Chishimba Kambwili has asked the Zambia Amateur Athletic Association (ZAAA) president, Elias Mpondela and former world 400 metres hurdles champion, Samuel Matete to reconcile.

. Matete

Speaking on the ‘Let The People Talk’ programme on Radio Phoenix in Lusaka yesterday, Kambwili said he could not understand why Mpondela and Matete were having their differences resolved in the courts of law when the grievance channels at the ministry had not been exhausted.
He said the ministry had on several occasions advised associations not to take each other to court but should solve issues within the sports circles.
Kambwili, however, said he had read the constitutions of all the sports associations and that he will not be part to any illegality should one body veer off the laid down rules.
“I will not be party to any illegality if any person or party fails to follow the constitution. I am aware of what all the constitutions of the associations say,” he said.
ZAAA has been embroiled in a leadership tussle after the Mpondela executive disqualified Matete and four others from contesting the elections which were set for December 27 last year.
Matete and group, who had appealed to the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ), then took up their case to the Lusaka High Court where the quartet were granted an injunction.

. Mpondela

The court ordered ZAAA to allow Matete, Christopher Manda, Jonathan Chipalo, Judith Chaongopa and Carol Mokola to allow them contest the elections.
Later, ZAAA decided to postpone the December 27 elective annual general meeting (AGM) so as to put all the court’s demands in place before the august gathering could take place.
However, Matete and group went ahead held an AGM which ushered the 1996 Olympic Games silver medalist as interim ZAAA president.
Kambwili, then, rubbished the election of an interim ZAAA committee and warned of life bans to the people abating the confusion in the association.
Yesterday, the minister said the Matete-led interim executive did not finish the appeals process by not going to the ministry when they felt aggrieved by SCZ’s response to the matter.
The two parties are still court.