Some Copperbelt clubs have threatened to form a splinter national athletics body if the current Elias Mpondela led Zambia Athletics Association (ZAA) leadership does not call for fresh elections by June.
Chambishi Athletics Club chairman Chipoma Mulenga said ZAA should hold elections urgently because the mandate of the leadership currently in office expired in 2014.
Mulenga said it is sad that Mpondela and company have overstayed beyond their mandate.
“If we do not have elections by the end of May we will have no option but to form our own ZAA so that athletes can benefit.
“We have spoken to the Minister of Sports and the National Sports Council of Zambia and no one seems to be concerned with the happening in ZAA,” Mulenga said.
He challenged clubs countrywide to ensure that sanity prevails in ZAA.
“It is sad the way things are happening in ZAA. So as clubs on the Copperbelt and countrywide we are demanding for fresh elections. We last voted for Mpondela and the group in 2010 and their mandate expired in 2014,” Mulenga said
He added:”Clubs should unite and ensure that we protect our constitution. The current executive has expired because they don’t have a fresh mandate from clubs.”
Meanwhile, in 2014, the Lusaka High Court has ordered the ZAA to allow former World 400m hurdles champion Samuel Matete and four others to contest the elections during the annual general meeting on Saturday.
Judge Chalwe Mchenga restrained ZAA general secretary Phil Kubombela from disqualifying, barring, blocking, stopping Matete, Christopher Manda, Jonathan Chipalo, Judith Chaongopa and Carol Mokola from contesting any position at the ZAAA annual general meeting (AGM) to be held on Saturday or any other date.
Matete and four others had sued ZAA general secretary Phil Kubombela seeking an injunction to restrain the association from disqualifying them from standing for positions of President and vice president.
Mpondela has overstayed. He has been at the helm of ZAAA since 1999. No medals to show for. He’s more preoccupied with Inter-company relays.
Mpondela argued during a “Let the People Talk’ program recently that he is not against competition but he won’t accept “anyone coming from nowhere” to take the reigns at ZAAA. In his thinking you have to have been a corporate chief executive in order for you to run ZAAA. How can accomplished athletes like Chipalo, Matete and Mokola be said to be coming from nowhere? Boot him out like Kalusha was in FAZ. Mwamba Kalenga should not be taking sides in this matter. Kulibe wamuyaya!
@ Mop, I’m with you here 100%. At least we all know where Matete, Chipalo and Mokola have come from. Where did Mpondela come from, if I may ask? Which medals in athletics did he ever win for mother Zambia for him to be insulting the legends of athletics in Zambia? The position of Association president must be very sweet mwe!!!!!!
Mpondela, you’re now old, retire with dignity please.