By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

THE recently distributed circular on the controversial attempts to amend the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) constitution to restrict candidates for the FAZ presidency may have been doomed even before it left Football House.
In the circular dated March 16, Premiership side,  Nchanga Rangers want the FAZ council to convene next weekend in Kabwe to allow only those who served in the FAZ executive committee to be eligible to contest the presidency.
But according to the FAZ constitution, the proposal can not be entertained at this year’s annual general meeting (AGM) because it was not circulated in good time and will not be on the agenda.
The constitution states under Article 26 (3) that any proposals to amend the constitution at a scheduled AGM should be circulated to all affiliates at least a month before the AGM.
“Notices, agenda, and any other relevant documents of the AGM shall be sent to members at least forty-five (45) days in advance. Only written responses to AGM documents circulated to members should be tabled for discussion,” the article states.
With the FAZ circular dated March 16,  just 12 days before the AGM, the motion is doomed as it does not meet the 45-day criteria as the constitution clearly states that only written responses will be tabled.
In the matters Article 26 lists and those that can be tabled after a 45-day notice include among others any amendments to the constitution Rules and Regulations that fall under sub section (l).
A FAZ circular stated that Rangers had written them asking for amendments to the constitution to put restrictions on FAZ presidential candidates against the status quo where any person who has been an official at club level for five years can contest the FAZ top job.
“Nchanga Rangers have proposed that for a councillor to stand as a president of the Football Association of Zambia, he /she must have served in the FAZ executive as an executive committee member,” the circular states.
The Afrisports proposal went a step further and stated that: “One of the qualifications for one to stand as FAZ president is that, one must have served in FAZ either as an executive committee member, treasurer or vice-president before.”
However, Rangers president, Blackwell Siwale is quoted stating that his club’s proposal was in line with CAF and FIFA Statutes which requires that any person wishing to become the federation president should have served a term at the minimum in the CAF or FIFA executive.
“This is not a new scenario; it’s the same thing at CAF and at FIFA. For you to be a president of CAF, you should have served in the CAF executive for some period. So there is nothing wrong with what Nchanga is saying.
“When FIFA said all should implement Club licencing, no one cried. This proposal is also coming from FIFA and I don’t know why people are crying. Instead of criticising it, let’s look at its benefits, it will help with football development. And we are not stopping anyone. And anyways, the football family will decide, it’s just a proposal,” Siwale added.