ANOTHER ZA TERM FOR MPONDELA

MATHEWS NDANDULA writes @SunZambian ELIAS Mpondela has retained his seat as Zambia Athletics president for the next four years after being re-elected on Saturday. Mpondela scored 51 votes against his rival Samuel Matete who secured 25 votes. He has been at the helm of the elections body since 1998. Mpondela insisted in an interview that despite Matete not being qualified to participate in the elections, he had convinced the council to allow him participate. “He (Matete) was not eligible to participate but I had to put it on the table so that members do allow him to contest and see if he can win I tried what I could to bring him back we gave him a big position in the technical but he rejected he wanted to be president again he has lost,” the ZA president said. “I have no hard feelings against him I will work with him in my administration will still engage him to see how best we can work together.” And Matete accepted defeat stating that he will continue doing his work of developing the athletes on grassroots. And asked if he will accept the offer from the new executive if at all they engage him, Matete said it depends on how good the offer is. “If I am offered any position I will look at how good the offer is, then I will decide because last time when I was given a position in technical department I was promised heaven on earth things that I did not see,” Matete said. Meanwhile some athletics administrators such as Jonathan Chipalo was among several others who did not participate in the meeting and were restricted from entering the venue. When asked for a comment, Chipalo said it was a blessing for him not to be allowed inside. “It’s okay this time it’s not Mpondela who blocked me but someone somewhere, for me it’s a blessing because if you’re are advised not to drive it’s better to listen because if you go ahead you may have an accident and lose your life so for me all is well I will continue with my works I have my club and activities continues In fact you should come and cover us,” Chipalo said. National sports council sent four representatives to witness the process as Josab Chang declared the elections free and fair. Transparency international Zambia was represented Kalunga Sampa who was the presiding officer for the 2020 Zambia Athletics elections. The full ZA executive is: President Elias Ng’andu Mpondela Vice-president Capt Bernard Bwalya General Secretary Davison Mung’ambta V/General Secretary Maureen Kolomwe Treasurer KomaniNg’ambi Committee Members 1.JeddahGodasPhiri 2.GetrudeSianakaumeGamela 3.MosesPhiri 4.ProsperTandabala