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Raymond Jaravaza
BRING it on!
The Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board (ZNBCB) chairman Richard Hondo has been “challenged to a bout” on allegations of financial misdemeanour and running a one-man show at the boxing entity.
Fed up ZNBCB board members are calling Hondo to an emergency meeting on 3 November so he can explain alleged financial irregularities and flouting of good corporate governance principles.
The ZNBCB is the custodian of professional boxing in the country.
Hondo was re-elected ZNBCB boss in January last year.
The boxing boss is, among a litany of allegations, accused of failing to call for board meetings, financial misdemeanour and running the organisation like his personal project.
In a no-holds-barred e-mail, leaked to B-Metro Sport, board members are demanding a meeting with Hondo to solve the problems bedevilling the sport.
The e-mail was written on 19 October and copied to Hondo and members of the entire board.
“It’s extremely shocking that since our appointment (in early 2017) we have not met as a board and that you continue running boxing business on your own as if it’s your personal business. You have ruthlessly quashed any attempts to have meetings and you have seriously divided the board through divide and rule tactics.
“You have also refused to be transparent by clearly refusing to share the finances of the organisation with other board members,” reads part of the correspondence.
Hondo also stands accused of failing to disclose finer details of a “sponsorship deal” that ZNBCB signed with Kalakoda Promotions.
“There are a lot of deficiencies in the money allegedly paid by Kalakoda to host its bills and they said that they pay more than $7 000 as a sanctioning fee but you and the SG (secretary-general Patience Masarirambi) said they pay only a few dollars.
“Such inconsistencies are shy of good corporate governance principles and Kalakoda Promotions is actually threatening to pull out of Zimbabwe because of such maladministration,” reads the email.
The board members also want Hondo to explain why he sleeps in fancy hotels at the expense of the organisation on unauthorised boxing business.
“A few boxing officials, including yourself, have attended unauthorised boxing business and stayed in five-star hotels but you have refused that such issues be brought to light and explained. However, you refuse that ZNBCB takes care of our (other board members) travel, accommodation and food when we attend boxing business,” it’s alleged.
The board members want to meet the Minister of Sport and Recreation Kirsty Coventry as a matter of urgency.
Hondo dismissed the allegations as part of a conspiracy by a disgruntled board member to “tarnish” his image.
“It costs about $4 000 in sitting allowances to hold a board meeting, funds that we do not have but for the sake of progress we have had to improvise by sending circulars to all board members on pertinent issues that needed our decisions,” said Hondo.
On staying in fancy hotels on unauthorised boxing business, the ZNBCB boss dismissed the allegations as hogwash.
“In May this year, I travelled with the secretary general to the Sadc Awards and the air tickets were paid for by a sponsor while Boxing South Africa catered for accommodation in Johannesburg so I don’t understand how I have purportedly stayed in fancy hotels at ZNBCB’s expense when we don’t even have money to hold board meetings,” he said.
Hondo maintains that the Kalakoda Promotions deal was done above board as “they are treated the same with local promoters”.
Online Reporter