Zimba retains Africa boxing post

Malawi Professional Boxing Control Board (MPBCB) president Lonzoe ‘Defector’ Zimba has retained his position as Africa Boxing Union (ABU) executive board member.

This follows the continental boxing body’s elective congress in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on Wednesday, which also saw Tunisian Houcine Houch, who is also World  Boxing Council (WBC) vice-president, being re-elected president.

In an interview yesterday, Zimba said he was excited to be re-elected for the second time.

He said: “This is testimony that Africa has confidence and trust in our leadership and we will continue our efforts to promote the sport further.”

Zimba said as a country, Malawi has also benefited from his position as local boxers have  secured international title bouts in recent times.

“In the recent years, our boxers Hannock Phiri, Ellen Simwaka, Anisha Basheel, Ruth Chisale and Isaac Chilemba have won international bouts which is a sign that we are making progress,” he said.

“Other achievements the board has registered include, having five officials attending a WBC training, two of them rated to officiate any bout worldwide.”

Zimba also said having one of the board’s officials officiating a bout and two judges,  was another feat.

“This signifies the confidence our ring side officials have attained,” said the MPBCB president.

Others that were elected into the ABU board were vice-president  Peter Ngatame (South Africa), secretary general  Moreen Mulanga (Uganda), exective board members Solomon Oforiman  (Ghana),  Wamunyima Chingumbe (Zambia) and Twura Traore  (Mali).

Apart from the ABU convention and Congress, delegates also attended a training and grading workshop.

Zimba described the workshop as beneficial as it enhanced delegates’  technical and administrative capacities.

Apart from Zimba,  MPBCB was represented by five other officials namely the board’s general secretary Johny Palichesi, director of training Gift Patsanja, director of investigations Gibson Chisale, director of logistics Thoko Mvula and treasurer general Elton Ndonjime. n