Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Augustine Hwata
23 July 2008
Harare — THERE is no end in sight to the confrontation between the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board on one side and the promoters/managers on the other end.
Twelve local boxing promoters, led by Tongai Chisvo of the TMC Boxing Stable and Johane Nalube of Kilimanjaro Academy met at Raylton Sports Club on March 28 where they raised a number of grievances against their board.
The stakeholders passed a vote of no confidence in ZNBWCB secretary Patrick Mkondiwa, whom they are accusing of lack of professionalism when executing his duties.
Mkondiwa stands accused of influencing boxers to dishonour their contracts with15 stables as well as stifling the development of the sport.
It was further alleged that Mkondiwa unilaterally deducts levies from boxers as an administration fee and that he goes on international trips that are not sanctioned.
A resolution was passed at the meeting that the promoters/managers should seek an audience with the board and a working committee of chairman Stalin Mau Mau of the Mau Mau Boxing Stable, vice chairperson Chisvo, secretary Thomas Kambuyi of Fly High Boxing Academy and treasurer Farai Muchena from Hunyani stable was set up.
But Mkondiwa has come out firing and issued a statement with an itching attack on Chisvo, Mau Mau, Kambuyi and the resolutions of the managers' meeting.
"It would help his contribution to the sport of boxing if Chisvo had a greater understanding of the rules and regulations of professional boxing.
"It is his duty as a manager to find fights for the boxers and prepare them adequately but Chisvo has very little time for this.
"When a boxer goes for a very long time without a fight and is ill-prepared, the result is that he loses and that will be a reflection of the incapability of the manager.
"What the board does now is to try and organise seminars for boxers especially when they go for international fights so that we appraise them on the requirements and on many occasions Chisvo has not bothered to send his boxers to such briefings.
"And when his boxers lose, he blames the board, how brilliant!" said Mkondiwa.
Mkondiwa alleges that the board tries to get international bouts for the boxers seeing that promoters like Chisvo are idle but is surprised that the same managers suddenly appear to claim the managers' percentage.
"The board tries to organise fights so that talent will not go to waste and Chisvo only comes to demand his percentage but the boxers will rightly protest as they see it unfair for the manager to reap where he did not sow.
"If this happens, Chisvo blames the board for turning the boxers away from his stable," said Mkondiwa.
Mkondiwa also claimed that there was bad blood between Mau Mau and him arguing that the respected promoter "should not be immune to constructive criticism".
"It pains me really to pick a quarrel with promoter Mau Mau because he is one man who had made the greatest material sacrifice to boxing in post independent Zimbabwe.
"In terms of achievement, there has been no one greater and he has guided the country to the second Commonwealth title with Zvenyika Arifonso.
"The sad thing is that when he complains it is not from lack of knowledge but from an element of animosity for my person," Mkondiwa said.
Mkondiwa is of the opinion that the fallout between the two came after he had criticised Mau Mau over the way he had poorly organised a boxing tournament a few years ago at the Harare Gardens.
"I would like to challenge these managers and promoters to come for an open meeting if they are genuine and I am prepared to step-aside if I am impending the progress of boxing," said Mkondiwa.
Mkondiwa has since written to both Mau Mau and Chisvo but the managers hit back.
"We raised our concerns with the board over Mkondiwa and expect the board to reply us.
"But its surprising that Mkondiwa goes on the reply to us when we have raised a complaint against him through the board.
"Instead of recusing himself from the board, he now acts as the judge, jury and prosecutor.
"He is biased and would try to save his skin and we need an address from the board and not their secretary," said Chisvo.
The current administration of professional boxing in Zimbabwe is largely in shambles with the sport having fallen from grace.
Soon after 1980, Zimbabwe had a vibrant boxing industry, churning out champions like the late Proud "Kilimanjaro" Chinembiri, Langton 'Schoolboy" Tinago and the late Kid Power Mutambisi.
Now what remains are memories of the sport that once held the nation spellbound.
A lot of questions has been raised on the composition of the boxing and wrestling board which many people feel should be reconstituted.
The current board led by Richard Hondo has been in charge for more than two decades and many stakeholders feel that they have run out of ideas.
Even the national rankings are in tatters and champions in some categories can go for over three years without defending the titles.
Since the 1956, boxing has been using the same constitution although it has been amended several times through Parliament.
Funding of the sport and lack of corporate support has also been cited for the dearth in the sport and this has heightened calls for an urgent review of the Act.
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