The Sunday News
FORMER Zimbabwe light and middleweight champion Mordecai Donga has labelled the Zimbabwe National Boxing Board of Control as inept and unfit to lead the sport.
Donga, who is the director of Big Fish Boxing Promotions, said the Board appointed in early 2013 had failed to rise to the occasion although much had been expected of it.
The Board was put into place by former Education, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart with Paul Nenjerama at its helm but two years down the line the country is still to host an international bout.
Donga questioned the country’s failure to host an international fight saying it was a sign of the board’s ineptitude.
In a scathing attack, Donga said: “A number of boxing stables including myself have tried our level best to help revive the sport but we were sternly opposed by the current boxing board. We had difficulties hosting a tournament last year and we were even blocked from taking our boxers to Namibia. Why make it difficult for us to do our job of developing the sport.”
He said they struggled to get registered last year, only to be given a licence in August which left little time for Big Fish to organise any tournaments.
Donga said what had irked them further was that they will have to register again this year if they entertained any hopes of hosting any fights.
Efforts to get a comment from Nenjerama and his deputy Lorraine Muringi did not yield results for the past two weeks as their mobile phones were not being answered.
A boxing coach, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they would like to see boxing back on its feet and it was unfortunate the excitement that came with the appointment of the board had long faded.
“We obviously want to see more action, maybe lack of resources is stopping the board from doing its work properly but they (Board) should also be sympathetic to the cause of the boxers and promoters and make it easier for us to work towards the development of the sport,” he said.
Donga said all efforts to help revitalise the sport were seemingly being opposed and he felt the current Board lacked vision and direction.
“Boxing gave me the opportunity to represent my country and I love the sport and it saddens me the way things have become, Board members seem to have assumed their posts on a ceremonial role and are doing little to push the sport’s agenda.
“The Board has failed to even call for a meeting with promoters to see how they can create a conducive environment and tap into their ideas but are quick to bar us from holding competitions,” said Donga.
Other members of the Board, whose term ends on 31 January 2016 include Farai Muchena, boxing trainer Ed Hammond, Tsitsi Muzuva, Alex Kwangwari and Rangarirai Dzimba.
Journalist Gilbert Munetsi resigned from the Board late last year. In his resignation letter to Nenjerema, Munetsi said the Board was hamstrung by difficulties that included lack of funds and a secretariat.
