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By AUGUSTINE MUKOKA
The first time I interviewed Mr. Elias Mpondela some 20 plus years ago, my chin was as smooth as a six months old baby’s blessed assurance (the subtle way of describing bums).
Today, that part of my face is spotting zebra stripped hair (inmvi as ba Lusaka would call or others in the diaspora would say salt & paper).
This reflection should give you and me a practical idea of how long Mpondela has sat at the helm of the Zambia Athletics Association (ZAA), formerly the Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA).
Following Zambia’s hosting of the poorly organized Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) under-18/20 event in Ndola, I wish to join the rest of my compatriots demanding that Mpondela stands down as ZAA president.
Mpondela has held the ZAA position since 1998 or there about, a period long enough to have made a significant contribution.
At this point, he no longer has anything more to offer.
It’s about time he paved way for someone fresh, hungry and determined to make a difference to Zambian athletics.
What Mpondela has done over the last 26 years or so is more than enough a man can offer in serving a respective entity in society.
ZAA is not a kingdom nor is it a private entity that one man should be president in perpetuity. No.
And now is a time for Mpondela to call it quits and focus on other things.
The CAA event was a disaster both administratively and technically. The country was embarrassed in the area of accommodation and other aspects of seamless hosting of a continental showpiece. Add to poor organization the country’s performance on the track. Zambia was basically ridiculed on the track.
The host nation did not win a single gold medal and therefore the “proud & free” national anthem did not hit the speakers at Levy stadium except during the closing and opening ceremonies.
We all saw the images of the Ethiopian team and we also saw a video of a Zambian competitor who was virtually crawling in the hurdles category.
For a country that has produced a World hurdles champion in Samuel Matete, it is unthinkable we would showcase an athlete in the category with that showing.
I empathized with the athlete. He was thrown in the mix without proper preparation. And that’s what happens when a leader as run out of ideas.
I have read Mpondela’s statements regarding the organization of the event. They range from taking responsibility to accusations of Matete eying his position.
None of what Mpondela said is new. It’s good he took responsibility, but there’s nothing wrong with Matete seeking the ZAA presidency.
Accusing Matete of failing to produce a hurdles champion is in itself an admission Mpondela has reached his climax.
That’s why I say he must resign and pave way for a fresh and vibrant leadership to take over ZAA. He is not indispensable.
Mpondela can’t claim to be the Alpha and Omega of Zambian athletics; he is as human as any other persons who will take over from him.
We may be passed the days of Jonathan Chipalo. But there are individuals like Kennedy Mubanga.
There are many individuals that can make a difference some of whom are former athletes.
These may include but not limited to Bothwell Namuswa, Obed Mutanya, Prince Mumba and many others that have kept away because Mpondela is holding ZAA at gunpoint.
Sport Minister Elvis Nkandu must demonstrate that the UPND government understand and know what they are doing.
At the moment, it’s very difficult to appreciate the UPND sports policy because some of the people being entertained to manage sports organizations are passengers.
It’s my hope that my message will reach Mpondela and be a reminder of love and concern for him in the interest of the bigger picture which is country above self.
The Talent Identification Program (TIP) and the Inter-Company Relay will remain a good contribution Mpondela has made to athletics.
In as much as the TIP was a good program, the ratio of athletes and their success, if any, is too poor to justify Mpondela’s continued hold on the ZAA leadership.
Granted, the Inter-Company Relay has been a good fundraising venture for the sport but its success does not correspond to the results on the country.
Mpondela will do well to vacate the position and allow fresh minds to build on his initiatives.
I submit
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