JOIN DRIVERN TAXI AS PARTNER DRIVER TODAY!
ZAMBIA Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) ‘faction’ leader Samuel Matete and his supporters were yesterday barred from attending the non-elective annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lusaka.
There was confusion at Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) in Lusaka as some members of the Copperbelt Amateur Athletics Area Board (CAAAB) were equally not allowed to attend the AGM for allegedly supporting the candidature of Matete.
Matete, Carol Mokola, Jonathan Chipalo and Christopher Manda all stood outside while the meeting went on.
Confusion ensued when some members discovered that their names were not appearing on the accreditation list.
The move made the members to become incensed and questioned why CAAAB chairperson Bolton Mulendema was allowed to attend the AGM when members had voted him out of office for gross misconduct.
CAAAB members were also upset that their interim vice-chairperson Andson Katongo was denied entry along with Luanshya Amateur Athletics Club chairperson Elland Zimba and committee member David Manyando.
However, the ZAAA executive allowed the Luanshya club coach Felix Kapembwa entry.
But ZAAA president, Elias Mpondela said the association merely followed the constitution and allowed only those members in good standing with their area boards to attend the meeting.
“We have not committed any error in anyway but followed the constitution. Only those in good standing with the clubs and area boards should be part of the meeting. I don’t understand why there should be confusion,” he said.
Mpondela said the meeting was called for the councillors to approve the budget and 2015 calendar adding that programmes needed not to suffer at the expense of differences among administrators.
Meanwhile, Zimba said in an interview that he was banned from attending the meeting because his club supported Matete to stand as president.
“I was stopped from attending the meeting because we supported Matete to challenge Mpondela. They allowed the coach and refused me entry. What I know is that democracy allows one to support the candidate of their choice,” he said.
Times of Zambia
