WHY MUJALA MWEEMBA’S APPOINTMENT SMELLS MORE TROUBLE
WHY MUJALA MWEEMBA’S APPOINTMENT SMELLS MORE TROUBLE
The appointment of Mr Hans Mujala Mweemba as chair of the FAZ Referees’ Committee is being defended with vigour at the magnitude that is worrying as it gives tell-tale signs that problems around match officiating may be far from being over.
We don’t know much about Mr Mujala Mweemba or his credentials, but if his qualifications will need essays and press conferences to explain, then there is a serious problem there!
In fact, when one has to explain their qualification or suitability instead of producing tangible evidence or standard credentials, then most likely, the qualifications do not exist or are not solid.
It was over six months ago when respected FIFA instructor and former international referee Gladys Lengwe abruptly resigned as head of the FAZ’s Referees’ Committee, citing corruption and match fixing, the bulk of which had to do with the appointments of match officials by the Referees Manager.
And we think it is time FAZ found her successor.
But we don’t think the challenges refereeing faces require a good man or a good woman to resolve, but calls for collective effort and honest discourse from the highest office in Football administration.
There are a lot of undesirable activities happening in refereeing.
The evidence we have come across is frightening. In fact, it is a very difficult story to tell. It is not a story you can tell without leaving a lasting if not permanent damage on the reputation of Zambian football.
Exposing and discussing allegations and evidence of corruption is always a difficult undertaking – no patriotic person takes pleasure in exposing graft but someone has to save a public good from selfish, greedy and dishonest individuals.
A lot of people masquerading as administrators, bloggers, commentators, football analysts, name it are individuals that should never be near Zambia football at all! They are serious viruses viciously eating the nucleus of football for their fringe benefits.
These phony characters appear to be genuinely supportive of our beautiful game but they are actually toxic; evil and corrosively corrupt.
What is even more worrying is that the same characters are today falling over each other to defend Mr Mujala Mweemba’s appointments. What more worrying signs do we need???
When Gladys resigned, FAZ lost an opportunity to investigate the gravity of the problem that has besieged our refereeing.
Yes, her allegations were explosive but we think her reasons for resigning needed the attention of Football House. Someone needed to get to the bottom of the allegations she made.
In fact, it was going to benefit the game if the probe was conclusive, just in case, it was found to be baseless. But that attempt was frustrated and thwarted.
We also understand the trepidation and discomfort for Mr Keith Mapenzi Mweemba subject his own creation; his referees manager Stanley Hachiwa to a possible probe? No parent is ever comfortable to discuss a thieving child, even if it is just mere allegations.
Just in case, he was found wanting! But again, those allegations still remain on record.
But dealing with any pervasive evil such as corruption or allegations of match fixing requires a lot of sacrifice, fairness and honest engagement beyond oneself.
Some problems cannot be solved by wishing them away.
Some problems cannot be solved by threats or intimidation, not even the invoking of the Cyber Security Act would not force them to disappear. They need to be confronted head-on.
Clearly, the appointment of Mr Mujala Mweemba has been troubling.
Listening to FAZ president Keith Mapenzi Mweemba go to town to school everyone about he being a LAWYER and why his hiring of Mujala Mweemba should not be questioned is vexing.
People questioning the appointment of Mr Mujala Mweemba are raising fundamental constitutional issues, which in our wisdom can be addressed by the FAZ Governance and Legal committee which is tasked with interpreting the law.
Being a lawyer doesn’t give Mr Mweemba unlimited latitude to interpret the FAZ constitution correctly. In fact, we think the interpretation on Mr Mujala Mweemba’s appointment was meant to suit his personal preference.
Is it not normal practice that a legal opinion gets overturned? That’s why we feel decent corporate governance practice demands that the FAZ Governance and Legal Committee remain the legitimate organ on constitutional matters.
In fact, it is not even good for Mr Mweemba because it is possible that some people could feel that he is breaching the constitution despite claiming absolute authority over constitutional matters.
In any case, as FAZ president he’s not legal counsel to Football House.
But we do not think a lot of people have the appetite to challenge the appointment of Mujala Mweemba, even those who fully understand its faulty atlaw.
Unfortunately with heightened threats of Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, a lot of our people are just intimidated and discouraged from engaging anyone who is seen to be in a position of power.