By SAMUEL LUKHANDA and ADRIAN MWANZA –

EMBATTLED Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) president Thomas Chileshe claims sanity has returned after the various warring factions decided to bury the hatchet in a bid to improve the sport.
Meanwhile, the ZBF has set February 27 as the date for the much-anticipated elective annual general meeting (AGM) with nominations for all positions to close on the day of the polls.
Chileshe said in an interview that the wrangles had cast a dark cloud on the federation which was in the spotlight due to in-fighting that had persisted.
“The wrangles in ZBF really cast a dark cloud because of the infighting amongst affiliates who had raised various issues,” he said.
He said even Midlands Boxing Association (MABA), who were at first reluctant to release six boxers to join camp ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers, had done so.
“We have resolved our differences and I am sure all the boxers that were barred by their associations are now in camp. Yes some affiliates had petitioned the Sports Council of Zambia, but we have resolved issues,” he said.
And ZBF general secretary Caesar Musuka made the announcement in a letter addressed to delegates that the AGM would be held in Kabwe at Nyaka Lodge Pavilion and that registration would start in the morning before the meeting starts at 13:00 hours.
ZBF has been embroiled in leadership wrangles as the affiliates, that include the Midlands Amateur Boxing Association (MABA), Copperbelt Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) and Southern Province Amateur Boxing Association (SPABA), petitioned the Sports Council of Zambia to have their president Thomas Chileshe removed.