Harare Boxing Leaders Cry Foul Over ‘Unfair’ Elect...

Harare Boxing Leaders Cry Foul Over ‘Unfair’ Election Rules, Petition SRC

Gilbert Munetsi - Zim Now Writer

The Harare Province Boxing Association has formally petitioned the Sports and Recreation Commission, alleging that the Zimbabwe Boxing Federation’s upcoming board elections are being conducted under “skewed” rules designed to protect the current leadership from being unseated.

In a strongly-worded letter dated August 8 and addressed to the SRC’s Director General and copied to the ZBF secretariat, HPBA secretary Kingston Jokonya and chairman Kambuyi Thomas argue that the electoral guidelines and timelines set by ZBF create an uneven playing field and undermine democratic principles within the sport’s national governing body.

The ZBF is expected to hold its board elections next month during its Annual General Meeting. However, the HPBA claims that the nomination window — less than seven days and closing on 15 August — is “grossly inadequate” for potential candidates to prepare submissions. They say this short period disenfranchises capable aspirants and contradicts the spirit of fair, open participation.

Of greater concern to the provincial body is the introduction of additional eligibility requirements that they say are not supported by the ZBF constitution. These include clauses in the election template — specifically items 4.1, 6.1 and 6.5 — that HPBA insists are crafted to “elbow out” challengers who could credibly contest the current leadership.

“This is not just a procedural oversight,” the letter reads. “It’s a departure from the constitution and a deliberate attempt to maintain the status quo.”

The association also calls for the scrapping of item 4.2 of the election template, which they believe unfairly blocks boxing figures who have significantly contributed to the sport’s growth but are not currently part of provincial structures.

This dispute comes against a backdrop of long-standing friction between some provincial associations and the ZBF leadership over governance and transparency. Similar grievances have emerged in past election cycles, with accusations that the federation has at times failed to adhere strictly to its constitution.

In recent years, the SRC has repeatedly emphasised the importance of fair and transparent elections in all national sporting associations, warning that any violation of constitutional procedures could result in disciplinary action.

The HPBA has appealed to the SRC to urgently intervene, extending the nomination period, enforcing constitutional compliance, and ensuring the elections are conducted transparently and inclusively.

“The credibility of these elections is vital, not just for boxing but for sport governance in Zimbabwe as a whole,” the association warns. “Office bearers must not use administrative privilege to manipulate the process or retain positions unchallenged.”

The SRC is yet to publicly respond to the complaint, but with the nomination deadline only days away, pressure is mounting on the regulator to act swiftly to avoid another governance scandal in Zimbabwean sport.