You have no mandate or legal backing to dissolve us… As Nkana national supporters club respond to Club EXCO

By Aaron Mubanga Jnr | May 2, 2020

The fight between the Nkana Executive Committee and the fans has taken a new twist after the Supporters Club came out and said the EXCO has no mandate or legal backing to dissolve the Supporters club or it’s affiliated body.

According to a press statement by Supporters club National chairperson Emmanuel Zulu, The Supporters club executive committee draw their mandate from the paid-up fans who elected them.

The letter went on to say that the Supporters club Executive Committee turned down a summon by the club Executive Committee because they were not availed with the agenda for the meeting.

Reference is made to the media reports of the Nkana Football Club Executive Committee having dissolved the club’s supporters’ groupings. The Nkana Football Club Executive Committee has no mandate and legal backing to dissolve the Nkana National Supporters Club and its affiliate bodies. The Nkana Supporters National Executive Committee was duly elected by the fully paid-up Nkana Football Club supporters drawn from various districts across the country. The National Supporters Executive Committee, therefore, draws its mandate from the very paid up members it represents.

“The maneuvers exhibited by the Nkana Executive Committee where it summoned the Chairperson Mr. Emmanuel Zulu and his entire committee to appear before it without giving reasons or an agenda for such summons has been exposed by its decision of illegality which was passed at their meeting held on 30th April 2020 where the supporters’ representatives could not attend because of lack of a clear agenda. The Nkana Executive Committee declined to avail the agenda of the meeting which led to the Supporters National Executive Committee to turn down the summon because doing so, could have legitimized illegal decisions such as the one in question.

The National Supporters Executive Committee had been desirous to engage the Nkana Football Club Executive Committee and was hoping that it would receive a genuine call for dialogue devolved of controlling summons is received. The Nkana National Supporters Committee will not be cowed from focusing on the issues that have been raised and presented to the Chief Executive Officer of Mopani Copper Mines who are the main sponsors of the club. The actions of the Nkana Executive Committee Members who sat and decided to dissolve the National Supporters Executive Committee together with its affiliate organs is just an attempt to save face and put a lid on legitimate issues raised and presented to the Chief Executive Officer of Mopani.”

Last week the Nkana supporters club officially wrote to the sponsors Mopani Copper Mines to remove Club President Evaristo Kabila from his position and place him on indefinite leave.

According to a stamped copy of the statement from the National Executive Committee of Nkana Football Club Fans availed to the ZamFoot Crew then, The decision was because of unpleasant reports of mismanagement at the club.

“Apart from the gross mismanagement concerns raised by the supporters, other issues of corporate governance have arisen at the club where the Kabila led Executive Committee has contravened the constitution of the club by inter alia not following the laid down procedures in filling up the membership of the executive committee. This among other issues could have been the ones to have received utmost attention in order to cure the anomalies that have been perpetuated for a long time now. Suffice to say, the vision and strategy of the club cannot be refocused without the Club Executive Committee through the Mopani Chief Executive Officer responding to the concerns raised by the Supporters. The Nkana Executive Committee should be reminded that issuing threats of criminal prosecution will not erase the gross mismanagement and disregard of corporate governance among other issues currently obtaining at the club which ought to be attended to urgently.”

The Supporters club Chairman also advised the EXCO to focus on clearing players’ dues and not holding meetings. Zulu went on to call on all the supporters under his wing to avoid making provocative statements that can be seen as threats or propositions for violence.

As things stand, it is unlikely that players have been paid their April Salaries, a practice that has been prevalent at Nkana, thereby affecting their performance. These are issues where energies should be expended than holding illegal meetings.

“In view of the foregoing, the agitation by the supporters have been heightened. We, however, would like to advise all our supporters under our charge to desist from making any statements that may be construed as a threat or proposition for violence. We appeal to everyone to remain calm and resolute.”

Yesterday, The Nkana club Executive Committee dissolved all fans/supporters Committees at all levels nationwide following a meeting held at Nkana Stadium on 30th April 2020 where the Executive Committee passed a unanimous resolution to dissolve all fans/supporters Committees with an exception of the choir groups.