Cezobal miss Basmal AGM

Central Zone Basketball League (Cezobal) officials were conspicuously missing at the Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) annual general meeting (AGM) held at Malawi National Council of Sports boardroom on Saturday.

Cezobal was at loggerheads with Basmal due to misunderstandings over each other’s jurisdiction. The AGM, which discussed the inactive national team and strained relationship between some affiliates and the national body, was seen as a perfect platform to iron out the differences between the mother body and Cezobal.

Speaking after the AGM, Basmal president Raymond Banda said Cezobal chairperson Kingsley Gwaza and his deputy Barlett Mafuleka excused themselves from the AGM due to personal engagements.

“The issue of Cezobal is about a clash of policies. It is about knowing the demarcation between national and zonal leagues.

“About the AGM, we looked at our track record for the year and we agreed to have an engaging calendar for 2012/13,” said Banda who in his closing speech, stressed that no amount of differences justifies members to insult each other in their correspondences.

Gwaza on Monday said their absence was genuine as the AGM’s precondition was specific for the general secretary and chairperson to attend from each affiliate.

“I was at a tombstone unveiling ceremony [for his late brother James] and I excused myself long time ago. We would love to work with everybody, but we are always misunderstood when we raise issues. For example, at the AGM there was no treasurer’s report,” Gwaza explained when asked if he could not delegate.

Recently, Cezobal cancelled its Presidential Initiative on Sports regional finals due to disagreements with Basmal over funding.

The AGM also agreed to hold an all-star national championship in Mzuzu on November 23. National coach Blair Phiri raised concerns over the national team’s inactivity.

Northern Zone Basketball League (Nozobal) representative Chimwemwe Mhone described the AGM as “very constructive despite Cezobal’s absence.”