‘NSCZ board exit sad for local sports’

By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSATHE embarrassing end of office for the Patrick Mutimushi-led National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) board is evidence of lacunas in our sports governance system, says Zambia Table Tennis Association (ZTTA) vice-president Wisdom Kaunda.Kaunda said it was unfortunate that a board which was supposed to be functional from 2017 was only in …

‘NSCZ board exit sad for local sports’
By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSATHE embarrassing end of office for the Patrick Mutimushi-led National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) board is evidence of lacunas in our sports governance system, says Zambia Table Tennis Association (ZTTA) vice-president Wisdom Kaunda.Kaunda said it was unfortunate that a board which was supposed to be functional from 2017 was only in office for merely three months.“We hope that there will be a board that will be put in place as quickly as possible so that normal operations can start. Otherwise, what happened is somehow embarrassing, the tenure ends without the board even working. It sends a bad signal to the rest of the world and erodes confidence from the federations on our governance system,“Today we are using the law to interpret the tenure of office but where was the law when those elected in 2017 were not allowed to operate. We really need to think through it,” he said.Handball Association of Zambia (HAZ) communications manager Josab Changa appealed to the Sports minister Emmanuel Mulenga to appoint credible individuals who will add value to sports development.Changa said associations were looking forward to a NSCZ board that will work closely with all association without segregation.“We expect a functional board to be put in place as soon as possible. I am appealing to the minister that even as he exercises his powers to appoint the five other members, he should give us credible people who are going to add value to sports development,” he said.Mulenga on Thursday said a board would be put in place within 60 days as he does not want the ministry to run the affairs of sport which is a mandate for NSCZ.NSCZ was from May 2017 to February, 2020 operating without a board after then Sports minister Moses Mawere nullified the election of the seven board members until the Sports Council Act was revised as it had lacunas.