The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Electoral Committee has declared incumbent Andrew Kamanga as the duly elected president for the period 2025-2029, rejecting eight nominations that were deemed invalid.
Kamanga, who has led Football House for the past nine years, was challenged by journalists Godfrey Chikumbi and Alex Njobvu, as well as veteran sports administrator Machacha Shepande.
Others included former Football House general secretary Adrian Kashala, businessman and financial expert Mumbo Lombe, and Francis Hafwiti. The list also included former Chipolopolo vice captain Emmanuel Munaile, as well as lawyer and FC Muza owner Keith Mweemba.
Electoral Committee chairperson Ronald Hatoongo announced the successful nominees for the FAZ elections to be held on March 29 in Livingstone, stating that the majority of candidates failed to meet the eligibility criteria and declaring Kamanga as duly elected unopposed. He also stated that unsuccessful applicants will have until February 22, 2025, to appeal.
“There were nine contestants in this position and out of that nine, eight were invalid only one candidate presented documents that were in good order and his name is Mr Kamanga Andrew N. By virtue of the powers vested in me by the FAZ statutes, I Ronald Hatoongo being the returning officer, do hereby declare the said Kamanga Andrew N duly elected FAZ president for the period 2025 to 2029. I thank you,” Hatoongo declared during a press briefing held at Football House on Monday evening.
Why eight candidates’ nominations were thrown out
Hatoongo also explained that the Electoral Committee assessed the candidates based on the eligibility criteria set out in Article 33 of the FAZ Constitution one of which is the Integrity test as outlined in Article 33(2) of the FAZ Constitution.
He also disclosed that nominators for candidates also needed to be validly registered in the FAZ Connect system for the 2024/2025 season. Each nomination was backed by two independent nominations to ensure the two nominators were valid members of FAZ.
“Most of them [nominators] were not registered with FAZ. In some cases [you will find that] someone is a general secretary in a club but they have not registered themselves in the system. With the candidates, I think most of them fell short on experience. It would appear there’s a trend that when elections take place, people go to sleep; they don’t put themselves in good standing with the Association by being active in leadership roles or being active in a club and so on.
“And then when it’s a year or so to go to elections, that’s when they go and they register themselves or they become active. That’s what happened; that’s what knocked out most candidates….. But also others were knocked out because the people that nominated them were not in good standing. They were not eligible to nominate because they were not registered with FAZ,” Hatoongo said.
The FAZ electoral committee also disclosed that another key constitutional requirement was five (5) years of experience in a leadership position of a member of FAZ as outlined in Article 33(5) of the FAZ Constitution.
“The candidates needed three (3) years’ experience in a leadership position of a member of FAZ immediately preceding the elections as outlined in Article 33(5) of the FAZ Constitution.
“The Committee checked the status of each prospective candidate in the FAZ Connect System to ascertain the positions that they held in the past three (3) years immediately preceding the elections i.e. between March 2022 to date.”
BELOW IS THE LIST OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES
President
Kamanga Andrew N (Unopposed)
Vice President
Kasale Christopher
Mumba Justin
National Women’s Representative
Priscilla Katoba
Zambian Premier League (ZPL)
None
Central Province Chairperson
Chisanga Pule (Unopposed)
Copperbelt Chairperson
Patrick Ndhlovu
Eastern Province Chairperson
Chrispin Kamuna
Patrick Nyirenda
Luapula Provincial Chairperson
Mujala Mweemba (Unopposed)
Lusaka Province Chairperson
Jordan Maliti (Unopposed)
Muchinga Province Chairperson
Samuel Mwape (Unopposed)
Northern Province Chairperson
None
North Western Province Chairperson
Arthur Kamulosu
Sakulenga Brian
Southern Province Chairperson
Moomba Nicholas Katiti (Unopposed)
Western Province Chairperson
David Simwinga (Unopposed)
READ MORE: DEC confirms Kamanga’s case still active ahead of FAZ elections
