Confusion in BB camp

Confusion engulfed  Nyasa Big Bullets camp yesterday as trustees chairperson James Busilley contradicted fellow trustee  Victor Msowoya’s announcement that the  executive committee elections slated for February 12 had been cancelled.

The development exposes glaring differences and communication flaws within the People’s Team trustees’ board.

Speaking when he called The Nation yesterday, Busilley said at no time did the trustees resolve to shelve the polls.

“Of course, he [Msowoya] called me a few days ago to inform me about a suggestion by a member of the task force that was set up to look into the ownership issue to the effect that we should first deal with that issue before calling for elections.

“But we never sat down as board to discuss that suggestion and I am surprised to read about the cancellation of the elections in the paper and our position remains that the elections are on,” he said.

Msowoya told The Nation on Tuesday that the taskforce had finalised its research and that the priority at the team’s annual general meeting (AGM) would be to look into the recommendations critically and decide on the direction to take and that is why the elections were shelved.

“Our fear is that the taskforce might have come up with determinations that may not be in line with the leadership set-up. It is, therefore, imperative that we wait,” Msowoya was quoted as saying.

However, Busilley said the recommendations can still be discussed at the AGM which will have the powers to adopt them or not.

“These are just mere recommendations and it is [still] the AGM that will determine the way forward because it has such powers,” he said.

The Bullets trustees chair also feared that cancelling the polls would be a recipe for chaos.

He said as such they are proceeding with elections for the main supporters committee on February 4 and those for the executive committee a week later.

Msowoya could not be reached for comment yesterday while the trustees’ legal adviser Gaston Mwenelupembe said he could not comment as “only the board’s secretary Jim Kalua and Msowoya are mandated to speak on such issues”.

Kalua could also not be reached for comment.

However, supporters committee chairperson Stone Mwamadi hailed Busilley for his stand.

“It is not proper to come up with decisions that could breed confusion. The elections must go ahead as planned. If there are any other outstanding issues, then they will be tackled at the AGM,” he said. n