Athletics great Samuel Matete has accepted his loss to Elias Mpondela in the ZAA presidential contest despite noting some anomalies during the elective annual general meeting held on Saturday in Lusaka.
Matete lost to Mpondela by 51 -25 votes to incumbent Mpondela during the ZAA elections.
In an interview, Matete, the former 400m hurdles world champion, charged that the constitution was not followed during the AGM
“At the end of the day it is a fact that the results were announced in favour of Mr Mpondela. And I walked to him and shook hands; you cannot run away from the fact that he was announced as the winner,” Matete said.
“Who am I to nullify the elections when I am not the one in charge of elections?”
The 1996 Olympics Silver medalist questioned the credibility of the Electoral College used at the ZAA indaba.
“Some clubs that voted are not members of ZAA and we don’t even know where they came from. Even now I am still trying to get hold of the Electoral College as we were not given the Electoral College pamphlets,” Matete said.
Meanwhile, Matete has revealed that he will only take up the proposed position on the ZAA technical bench when he is written to and signs a contract.
After victory, Mpondela told journalists that Matete will be part of the ZAA technical bench.
“That has to be put in writing and signed by both parties for me to be part of the technical team,” Matete said.
“You know what happened last time I reconciled with ZAA and I was appointed National Assistant coach and Copperbelt Director by mouth and nothing materialised. There was no appointment letter or contract. I do not want to go through the same things again,” he said.
Matete added:”I am still part of athletics and I will always be. I will continue developing athletes through my club.”
How can an individual be in office for 22 years? Where’s the advancement of new ideas? This organizations constitution should be revised to include term limits for all office bearers. Otherwise they just keep electing each other as a cartel and make organizations personal to holder. Good corporate governance demands it. All these years after independence and democracy as embedded good practice in our culture and organizations still eludes is. You can be sure there is no accountability in such organizations.
The fact that you Matete has accepted defeat shows what a good leader he is…
You are a true democrat Matete ???
Sometimes it’s better to move on whatever the circumstances. Matter you’re a great man and posterity will judge you well. There’s nothing that’s is credible in Zambia, crooks are in all spheres of life. Don’t accept to be bought, Mpondela will meet his waterloo one day
Matete leave these fools. If they want to be losers for the rest of their lives let them be. Look for money and establish your own athletics club in Chililabombwe.
Cartels are very difficulty to dismantle. Even in FIFA that’s the way it used to be till FBI intervened.
Mpondela is another Issa Hayatou!
CONGRATULATIONS MPONDELA BUT STICK TO YOUR LAST TERM TO PERVE WAY FOR FRESH IDEAS
This life president syndrome. must a shelf life……..it’s becoming toxic and cancerous…..
This Museveni appetite of clinging on is a bad and distasteful culture
He lost to an orchestrated mafia style cartel and at end of it all they all look innocent and Independent.