By FELIX MALUNGA –
THE Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) has uncovered a scam where some affiliate clubs have been under declaring the number of their members so that they pay less in affiliation fees.
ZGU president Charles Mwanza disclosed this when he presented his annual report at the union’s council meeting on Sunday in Kabwe.
Mwanza said the scam was uncovered during a Captains’ meeting in Mansa for the northern region clubs.
“Arising from the Captains’ meeting in Mansa, it has been discovered that some clubs are under declaring the number of their members thereby paying less in affiliation fees,” he said.
ZGU vice-president south, Jason Kazilimani Jnr said it was criminal for clubs to under declare their membership as the act was denying the union maximum revenue from annual subscription fees.
Kazilimani advised all affiliate clubs to own up and give correct information about the number of members at their respective clubs when paying for affiliation to the motherbody.
Mwanza also appealed to all clubs to settle their affiliation fees by December 31, saying failure to do so would be deemed as an act of indiscipline and dishonest.
He further warned clubs against hosting parallel fundraising tournaments on the same days when official ZGU events were taking place in the region. He said those clubs that deliberately disobey the set rules would be dealt with and an appropriate disciplinary action taken.
The ZGU chief said a penalty fee of K5,000 plus another stiffer disciplinary action would be slapped on the captain of the affected club.
Mwanza also cautioned golfers against using their respective clubs to settle personal scores, unrelated to golf issues.
Among some ZGU’s targets for 2015, Mwanza said the union wanted to deal with the issue of encroachment on various clubs across Zambia.
He also said the relationship between the Livingstone Golf Club and a developer had reached unacceptable levels where no tournament could now take place because of the poor state of the course.
Mwanza said ZGU had since taken up the matter with the Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) for intervention.