Football Association of Zambia elections face legal block as Siwale, Chileshe take Kamanga to court

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) elective general meeting has been thrown into uncertainty after football administrators Blackwell Siwale and Elijah Chileshe moved to block the polls through the Lusaka High Court.

The duo are demanding an immediate halt to the elections scheduled for Saturday, arguing that the current FAZ executive, led by Andrew Kamanga, has overstayed its mandate and is unlawfully clinging to power.

In their lawsuit, Siwale and Chileshe have sued Kamanga, who is FAZ President, alongside General Secretary, Reuben Kamanga, and the Sports Council of Zambia.

Read more: Copperbelt province holds FAZ Annual General Meeting, calls for unity in football leadership

They claim that the FAZ executive committee’s tenure, which began on February 27, 2021, expired on February 28, 2025.

Despite this, they argue, Kamanga and his team continue to act as if they are still in charge, even interfering in the ongoing electoral process.

The administrators allege that key election rules have been violated, citing:

• Unfair disqualification of candidates from the race without due process.
• ⁠Allowing Kamanga to contest despite a pending criminal case with the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).

Failure to publish the official list of candidates 21 days before the AGM, as required by FAZ statutes.

Manipulation of the FAZ Connect System, with claims that some members were disenfranchised by tampering with voter eligibility.

Siwale and Chileshe want the court to declare the FAZ executive’s tenure over and bar them from holding office. They are also seeking an order to:

• Nullify the 2025 FAZ electoral process, citing non-compliance with FAZ statutes.
• ⁠Refund all allowances paid to the outgoing executive after their term expired.
• ⁠Disqualify Kamanga from re-election, arguing that he failed the integrity test.
• ⁠Reinstate all unfairly disqualified candidates into the elections.

The case now threatens to derail the FAZ elections, setting up a legal showdown that could reshape the future of Zambian football governance.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.