By SAMUEL LUKHANDA  and GWEN CHIPASULA –
THE Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) has come under attack, with the Handball Association of Zambia (HAZ) saying the sport governing body is too petty.
Further, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) presidential hopeful, Andrew Kamanga has asked the SCZ to suspend all FAZ officials undergoing investigations on corruption because that was what the SCZ Act stipulates.
HAZ communications manager, Josab Changa said he saw no reason for the SCZ to summon him over a small issue and said he was more than ready to meet the disciplinary committee so that he speaks his mind.
The SCZ summoned the HAZ to today’s disciplinary hearing in Kabwe after it complained about the manner SCZ was running sport in Zambia.
“It is so shocking to be summoned over an opinion expressed by one individual and then the SCZ decides to drag the entire association into it,” he said.
The SCZ summoned HAZ together with the Zambia Volleyball Association (ZAVA), Hockey Federation of Zambia (HFZ) and Zambia Bowling Association (ZBA) to appear before its disciplinary committee today on different cases.
Changa said the SCZ board was now frustrating associations which are putting in their best towards the improvement of sports in the country.
“I am a trained sports administrator as well as a patriotic Zambian who has the right to express my opinion or observation on things or issues that can negatively affect the youths. I issued a statement with a heart for the young people whom we represent.
“I am happy that they have summoned me through the HAZ to appear before the disciplinary committee for offences known only to themselves.
I am ready to appear before anyone because I love this country and that SCZ is operating out of taxpayer’s money,” he stated.
But on Kamanga who has asked for the suspension of some FAZ officials, chairperson Mwamba Kalenga said SCZ would not interfere with Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigations because they were both wings of the Government.
Kalenga added that the SCZ had not received any petition from FAZ affiliates as such it would not get involved in the FAZ case.
“We have not received any petition from anyone about FAZ so we cannot jump into their case. We have a petition on boxing and we are going to act on that one,” Kalenga said.
Kamanga, however said suspending FAZ officials would never amount to interference because the issues were of public interest.
He charged that FIFA does not condone criminality so the council had no reason to be afraid that Zambia  would face any FIFA sanctions.
He said SCZ should invoke section 10(3) of the SCZ Act which allows them to suspend some FAZ officials.