By ADRIAN MWANZA and NDINAWE SIMPELWE –
THE standoff between Zambia Amateur Boxing Federation (ZBF) and its affiliates has continued with another association denying ever reconciling with the mother body as the extra-ordinary meeting set for Kabwe yesterday flopped.
Some affiliates called for an extra-ordinary meeting to remove embattled ZBF president Thomas Chileshe over his corruption allegations.
Allegations of corruption emerged late last year against Chileshe who was accused of demanding K400 from boxers and officials who took part in the All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.
But yesterday’s meeting failed to take off as Midlands Amateur Boxing Association (MABA), leaders of the petition, Copperbelt Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) and Southern Province Amateur Boxing Association (SPABA) shunned the meeting opting to attend the AGM that has been set for February 27.
ZBF vice-president Kennedy Mubita said in an interview that the meeting could not proceed because members have resolved to attend the February 27 AGM.
CABA chairperson Austin Hambula claimed it was good that the meeting failed to take place as it was unconstitutional
Meanwhile, MABA acting chairperson Christian Kalima said in an interview that the association decided to release the boxers for the development of the sport not because they had forgotten about the alleged corruption in ZABF executive.
Kalima said the standoff between the affiliates and the mother body should not in any way affect the development of the boxers hence the release to the national team.
“We are still fighting against all the corrupt activities in the executive. We have not reconciled like earlier reported. The release of the boxers is because we looked at the bigger picture and did not want to stand in the development of the boxers. The sport should not suffer because of our differences,” Kalima said.
Kalima said five boxers from MABA will be released to join the national team to prepare for Rio 2016 Olympics qualifiers later in June to be held in Cameroon.
The boxers include Simon Ngoma, Emmanuel Ngoma, Mbachi Kaonga, Benny Muziyo and Juliana Kasonka.
Chileshe last week claimed that wrangles in the federation were over after reconciling with its aggrieved affiliates after MABA agreed to release boxers to the national team
SPABA chairperson Philemon Musonda said only corrupt people who were enjoying the proceeds of corruption would reconcile with ZABF.
When contacted for a comment, Chileshe referred all queries to his secretary whose mobile phone was off at press time.
“We will be going for elections very soon. I don’t think I want to continue commenting on this matter. Let the secretary comment,” said Chileshe when pressed to confirm whether it was true ZABF had reconciled with its affiliates.
Chileshe is yet to deny the allegations which forced affiliates to demand for his removal from the position and is yet to state whether he will re-contest the position.