Bullets EGM disowns debt

• Suspend Fote, two others

Big Bullets FC’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held in Lilongwe at the weekend resolved to disown debts incurred during the CAF Champions League campaign by former chairperson Kondi Msungama’s leadership.

The meeting that started on Saturday night went on to the early hours of Sunday and was chaired by the club’s board of trustees chairperson James Busiley.

The meeting also suspended general secretary Harold Fote, Trust Nkhoma, who until recently, was the acting treasurer and marketing manager Daniel Mbebuwa for failing to submit reports.

Msungama and former treasurer Brian Ligomeka were also expected to present reports at the EGM, but did not show up.

“It was resolved to disown the debts because the former chairperson [Msungama], GS [Fote] the then acting treasurer [Nkhoma] and Mbebuwa did not come to justify the debts they incurred during the CAF tournament.

“The meeting, therefore, felt the club cannot commit to settling unjustifiable debts, so when creditors come they will be referred to those that were involved in the acquisition of the debts,” said Busiley.

During a press conference held last week, Nkhoma said at the time they were forced out of office, the debt was at K18.5 million.

“We now hear it is being estimated to be in the excess of K30 million, maybe the rest was accumulated during the Al Hilal return match,” said Nkhoma

Busiley also justified the suspension of Fote and others, saying they had ignored the summon to attend the EGM and present reports.

However, Fote laughed off the EGM’s decisions.

“That meeting, was null and void because, according to Article 5.7 of the club’s constitution, only one-third of paid-up members have the right to call for an EGM, by specifying the object of the meeting.

“So, an illegal gathering cannot make such decisions. When has failing to attend an illegal gathering become an offence? If anything, I should be the one suspending them for flouting clearly laid down procedures and raping the constitution,” said Fote.

Commenting on the stand taken on the issue of debts, the estranged BB GS said: “Again, it is a clear demonstration of failure to understand institutional operations. And why wasn’t Austin Kasito [second vice-chairperson] asked to present a report when he was involved in financial transactions on behalf of the club in Lilongwe last year? He too has to account.”

Fote said as an elected GS, he will call for an Annual General Meeting (AGM) shortly where all those that were elected will present reports, “because they were elected to perform particular tasks”.