By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –

FORMER Kabwe Warriors chairperson Andrew Kamanga has described the proposal to restrict people from contesting the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) presidency as discriminatory.
Kamanga said the proposed amendment is aimed at blocking potential challengers to the incumbent Kalusha Bwalya at next year’s elective annual general meeting (AGM).
Nchanga Rangers and Afrisport have called for the amendment of the FAZ constitution at this weekend’s AGM restricting the position of president to only former executive members.
The current provision requires candidates for the position of FAZ president to have served at club level for a period of five years.
Kamanga said in a statement yesterday that the proposal immediately disqualifies all 16 chairpersons running teams in the Super League extending to over 200 club chairpersons if all FAZ clubs were included.
“Most of these chairmen of Super League teams currently hold senior positions in the companies they represent-Zanaco chairperson is director of finance at Zanaco, Zesco United chairperson is director of distribution at Zesco Limited, Power Dynamos chairman is director at Copperbelt Energy Corporation.
Nkana chairperson is a senior engineer at Mopani, Green Buffaloes chairperson is a colonel at Zambia Army and Red Arrows chairperson is a colonel at Zambia Air Force. Based on this sample, the proposed amendment implies that these chairpersons are not capable of running FAZ since they have never served in any FAZ executive before.” Kamanga said.
He said discrimination of any sort is prohibited under the current FAZ constitution.
Article 3 (2) of the FAZ constitution states that discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group of people on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, politics or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.
Kamanga said the argument of circulating the proposal in 21 days does not hold as it was circulated to the clubs on March 16, which is 12 days before the AGM and clearly outside the constitution
“This proposal falls outside the required 45 days notice since it was circulated on 20th March 2015 and the AGM is on 28 March 2015.
Article 26(3) (i ) of the FAZ constitution reads – Notices, Agenda and other relevant documents 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 discussions,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Chunga Linda FC chairperson Gideon Kaumba urged the councillors to ignore the proposal saying it is unnecessary.
Kaumba said currently, the world football governing body, FIFA does not restrict the presidency to a few individuals and that anyone is free to contest for any position.
“It is unreasonable to start bringing in such proposals. We have seen Portuguese football legend Luis Figo contesting for the position of FIFA presidency, he has neither served on the FIFA executive committee nor held any position at his County’s football association but there he is, eyeing the FIFA job,” he said.
He said the clause was introduced at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to perpetuate selfish motives.
Kaumba said football should not be turned into an elite sport by introducing nomination fees which many aspirants cannot afford.
“Kalusha was part of the executive members who championed for the introduction of such a clause at CAF and now they want to bring it to Zambia. We have people who sacrifice by sponsoring clubs from their own pockets, why should they not contest the FAZ presidency?” he said.
For the amendment to go through under  clause 26 (4) (iii) of the FAZ constitution, it requires a quorum of at least three quarters of the FAZ members to be present, majority of two thirds quarters of the votes recorded and that the vote should be taken by calling the roll.