‘Those are not ZA members’

MATHEWS NDANDULA writes THOSE calling for elections are not Zambia Athletics (ZA) members, association president Elias Mpondela has said. The athletics boss who has clocked over 30 years at the helm of the association, has expressed disappointment at the continued claims that elections must be held in October this year. Mpondela states that the ZA membership is fully aware of the activities that the body is undertaking in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and are collaborating well with his executive to ensure the welfare of atheltes and that adequate preparations are made for future competitions. In an interview, Mpondela cited several individuals that he feels are speaking on issues that do not concern them as they are not ZA members One administrator that has fallen out of favour is Copperbelt athletics vice chairman Anderson Katongo who is currently serving a suspension. “We tried to engage Mr Katongo to come to Lusaka so that his matter is heard but he gave us the excuse of Covid-19 which is again understandable, so as things stand there is no way he can participate in Zambia Athletics activities even if we are to go for elections today, his status still remains as a suspended member,” he said. When asked on the possibility of a virtual meeting, using platforms such as Zoom, Mpondela said the issue to be addressed does not affect Katongo alone but several other individuals. The ZA boss also disclosed that Christopher Manda is not registered in the system despite claims that he had a position in Mufulira. “Mr Manda is not our member too. Him and [Jonathan] Chipalo are not showing in our systems and imagine all these people want to stand on same position, which is president. “Look Mr Christopher Manda claims he was chairman of Mufulira but the person who had that position is not him. Again here in Lusaka we hear he belongs to a club. Which club? Let him prove his membership same applies to Jonathan Chipalo, because the so called Higher Grounds is not in our Zambia Athletics records,” Mpondela insisted. “One only becomes a member through an affiliated club so in short I don’t know them. By the way how can one be a member of the association which they have continued insulting? The leadership they say is crooked.” Mpondela adds that he is aware of people who claims to have been in talks with some officials at the Ministry of Sports aiming at dissolving the Zambia Athletics. “I hear and of course they claim to have connections at the Ministry of Sports. They have continued visiting those offices wanting to dissolve ZA, but dissolve it for what? Scoring, performing well because we have brought medals for the country, we don’t trouble the Ministry of Sports or National Sports Council of Zambia when it comes to money. We source as Zambia Athletics, so why am I being targeted for over staying as the only reason what about my success in the association?” Mpondela further disclosed that he was considering writing to International Bodies regarding the constant interference by individuals. “I think they want us to write to international boards that we have some interference in the running of our sport. We have seen such reports in other associations and we can equally go that route,” Mpondela said. “Allow me to make mention that the reason why Samuel Matete was not given the letter of appointment to the positions he rejected, was that we were alerted that the said person is coming as a mole so we were taking it slow to observe if he really belongs to us or not.” He said that it was important for the ZA executive to work as a team and it was unfortunate that some individuals insisted on attacking the association and its leaders instead of moving the sport forward. The Sun