The National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) has announced that it will not recognize the incumbent Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga beyond 28th February 2025, when his four-year term of office comes to an end following his re-election during the annual general meeting held on 27th February 2021.
The FAZ Electoral Committee set March 29, 2025, as the date for the elective annual general meeting to be held in Livingstone. On Monday, they announced the successful candidates contesting various positions, however, in the presidential race, eight applicants’ nominations were declared invalid on various grounds, leaving Kamanga unopposed. The unsuccessful candidates have until February 22, 2025, to appeal the decision.
Reacting to the developments at Football House, NSCZ CEO Sombwa Munsansa said the Attorney General has guided that Kamanga’s term of office will expire on February 28th in line with the FAZ constitution.
“It is therefore imperative that elections be scheduled and conducted within the constitutional framework to ensure a smooth and legitimate transition of leadership. Holding elections after the expiration of the current term, such as the proposed 29th March 2025 will be inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution. Accordingly, the Attorney General has guided that the mandate of the president and the executive committee will lapse on 28th February 2025,” Sombwa said during a press conference in Lusaka.
“Therefore, the president and the executive Committee will have no power to continue administering the affairs of the Association beyond the 28th of February, 2025 unless elections are held and a new executive committee is constituted in line with the Constitution Based on the Attorney General’s advice and in line with the FAZ Constitution, national Sports Council of Zambia, we will not recognize the current executive committee and its president beyond 28 February, 2025.“
FAZ Constitutional Irregularities and Disqualification of Candidates
The NSCZ also notes that the inclusion of the Governance and Review Committee and the Audit and Compliance Committee in both the FAZ Standing Committees and the Judicial Bodies is an irregularity.
Sombwa said “the FAZ Constitution prohibits members of judicial bodies from serving on Standing Committees, ensuring a clear distinction between these bodies in order to maintain their independence and prevent conflicts of interest. As a result, the Governance and Review Committee and the Audit and Compliance Committee should not be part of the same judicial bodies. These committees must operate exclusively within the Standing Committees, as outlined in Article 41 of the Constitution.”
NSCZ has since issued a series of directives to FAZ, urging them to comply with legal advice provided by the Attorney General.
FAZ has been directed to “revisit the vetting process of candidates for the forthcoming elections and appoint a credible committee to oversee the nomination and election process, immediately embark on amending the constitution in line with the advice from the Attorney General and in conformity with the Laws of Zambia and the Sports Council of Zambia Act and also Provide sufficient information to the Council regarding the disqualification of candidates to stand for the forthcoming elections.”
NSCZ warned that failure to comply with the Attorney General’s advice and directives constitutes a violation of the Sports Council Act Chapter 142 of the Laws of Zambia which gives specific powers to the Council in handling the affairs of an association and the conduct of members of any association which may lead to suspension of activities of the association or suspension of a concerned member.
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