.Kalusha

By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya has accepted the resignation of treasurer Kelvin Mutafu following a controversial statement on the alleged dubious dealings at Football House.
A FAZ statement released on Friday night simply stated that Kalusha accepted the resignation of Mutafu.
The same statement went on to claim that Mutafu quit on Friday afternoon after the Football House communications department issued a statement where they threatened to deal with Mutafu firmly over what they termed as ‘wild allegations.
But investigations by the Times revealed that Mutafu had already quit his position by the time FAZ issued a statement or even sat to call for a meeting to deal with him within 72 hours.
Mutafu had sent the resignation letter via email to the president Kalusha and copied to all FAZ executive members as well as general secretary George Kasengele as early as 06:00 hours on Friday.
This is contrary to a FAZ statement which said that “Mutafu resigned on Friday afternoon following a statement from Football House… Mutafu was due to be among FAZ executives to attend an emergency meeting at which he was due to be asked to substantiate the claims he made”.
FAZ has called for an emergency meeting under article 27.5(i) of the constitution whose composition must include the president, vice-president, treasurer and two committee members.
Further, the constitution says any three of the members, including the president (Kalusha) or the vice-president (Boniface Mwamelo) shall form a quorum.
Meanwhile, Mutafu claimed that Zambia lost the Nike kit deal because of alleged corruption in FAZ.
Mutafu, who is seeking to defend his post at next year’s FAZ elections, also charged that there was a syndicate of ticket sales after the association allegedly blocked Vane Technologies and Shoprite from doing computerised tickets for the association.
In a posting on his WhatsApp group ‘Mutafu 4 2016 FAZ Treasurer’ on Wednesday, the former Forest Rangers chairperson said the Chipolopolo were initially the only African team dressed by Nike but that the deal was lost due to alleged corruption.
He charged that Zambia fell out with Nike after FAZ allegedly allowed an individual to reproduce the jerseys in China.