Be Forward Wanderers FC leadership has been challenged to prove its claims that the sponsor, Japanese car dealer Be Forward Limited, wants the current executive committee to continue.
The Nomads are set to elect a new executive committee on February 6 with elections for the main supporters committee will be held on January 31.
The club’s former general secretary, Chipiliro Mpinganjira, who is also contemplating to contest in the forthcoming polls, on Monday said in the absence of proof, the current leadership’s claim cannot be true.
“The current leadership is using the name of the sponsor as a bait either to remain in office, but that is not the stand of Be Forward Japan
“I do not think they [Be Forward] can impose such undemocratic principles on the team. Obviously, there are some officials who did well and if they choose to seek re-election, supporters will vote them back into office, but they should not use the name of the sponsor to their advantage. The sponsorship is for the team [and] not individuals,” said Mpinganjira.
He was reacting to club general secretary Mike Butao’s claims that the sponsors want to work with the incumbent committee.
“We are in a sort of dilemma in the sense that the sponsors want to work with the same committee while, on the other hand, we have a constitution that has to be respected.
“One of the challenges was that 2015 was a year of assessment. They [sponsors] are happy with the way we have performed financially and in other ways. So, let us do the elections and see what comes up,” said Butao.
The Nomads’ board of trustees secretary Patrick Jumbe said they will ensure that the elections are free and fair.
“Of course, there has been this talk [by the current leadership] that the sponsor wants them to continue, but we have not seen any official documentation.
“So, we are planning to meet them on the matter, only then will I be able to have a concrete position on the matter,” Jumbe said.
Be Forward’s local representative, Elisha Vitsitsi, said they will comment on the matter at an appropriate time. n
