By Philemon Jambaya

Pint sized boxing fighter Charles Manyuchi who recently defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) has blasted the government of Zimbabwe for failing to fund his fights.

Speaking at a press conference in Harare Manyuchi told reporters that it is disheartening that the government is failing recognize the potential in him

“I am fighter and I believe that I am raising the flag of the country high but surprisingly my efforts are not being recognized by the responsible authorities.” Manyuchi said.

Alphonce Zvenyika, a boxing legend popularly known as Mosquito expressed his disappointment in the Government`s failure to take boxing seriously.

“ Manyuchi is a great fighter whom we should be proud of as a nation but the relevant authorities are failing to see that, they can’t even provide facilities to train ahead of some crucial fights” Said the emotional Zvenyika.

Recently Manyuchi had to travel to Zambia for his preparations to defend his championship, as they are no training facilities provided.

The Zambian government recently offered Manyuchi a citizenship, which he refused to take, saying that he is patriotic to Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile the secretary of National Boxing Control Board Gilbert Munetsi tendered his resignation citing a lot of poor working conditions on the part of the Ministry.

“Much as it may hurt, as long as the appointing authority fails to direct resources as per the dictates of the Boxing and Wrestling Control Act, the Board is like a hunter with no arrows in his bows, and yet he is expected to bring forth game.” Munetsi wrote in his resignation letter, which is in our position.

The Ministry of Sports and Culture failed to give the board even a corner desk to operate from and the board was forced to work from their own homes.

A boxing fan who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity said that, if Zimbabwe is to succeed in Sports we have to have professional and serious administrators.

“If we want to become a powerhouse in Sports as a Country we have to employ serious and professional people to lead us as Sports administrators not what we are seeing, the guys who are on front are not even serious, they do not even thin of taking our sports to greater heights.” Articulated the fan.

Efforts to get a comment from Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture proved fruitless as he was said to be in a cabinet meeting.

See below , Gilbert Munetsi resignation letter

1 December 2014

Att: The Chairman (Mr P. Nenjerama)

Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board

RE: RESIGNATION

Dear Sir,

It is with a heavy heart, indeed, that today I have decided to tender my resignation from the Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board on which I have served as Secretary since our appointment by the Minister of Sport in January 2012.

During the tenure of my national service, which I have personally decided to cut short prematurely after a lot of consideration, there have been success stories and there have been challenges, some of them, unfortunately, man-made.

But I will be quick to give credit to colleague board members who, despite the extremely non-conducive environment we operated in, have soldiered on to ensure boxing is a sport worth keeping talking about.

I am yet to come across a professional, dedicated team such as the one I worked with on the Boxing Control Board. I also salute the owners of the sport, the boxers themselves, who despite circumstances that are not of their own making, have had to contend with numerous challenges and yet keep their hopes alive that one day all will be well.

Just two months after we got into office, we managed to have the first bank account for boxing in a long time, having inherited virtually nothing from our predecessors.

We have religiously held our monthly board meetings, all at our own individual expenses, and it is so

board whose task is just to clear (sanction) boxers to participate in tournaments and it ends there.

There are lots of expectations, Mr Chairman, from these poor but extremely talented people that we serve (boxers) and the fact that we cannot fulfil most of them, leaves us with more questions than we can give answers. touching to see members like Mrs Tsitsi Muzuva and Mr Edward Hammond driving from out of Harare for the meetings using their personal resources. That, to me is the highest definition of commitment and patriotism.

That we have timeously submitted our balanced books of accounts, minutes and proposed budgets and yet still have no place to operate from boggles the mind. It makes me wonder if we are not just a ceremonial

Much as it may hurt (but reality has to be stared straight in the face), as long as the appointing authority fails to direct resources as per the dictates of the Boxing and Wrestling Control Act, the Board is like a hunter with no arrows in his bows, and yet he is expected to bring forth game.

Our situation is like that of a cow that has no pastures to feed on to afford its young calf the chance to suckle. It cannot help, but watch it starve to death.

What pains me most, though, is the rate at which the custodians of this sport rush to get credit when good has been done, pamper us with false promises and walk away with all the credit when good results have been achieved.

The Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board is one of the three parastatals under the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture, the others being the Sports and Recreation Commission and the National Arts Council. The SRC is housed at the National Sports Stadium. NAC has offices in Mt Pleasant and both have a secretariat. Where in this world have you heard of a national boxing authority running its affairs in people’s homes? I am sorry if I sound blunt, Sir, but this is not only unprofessional, it is unbelievable and humiliating. Imagine the world learning that an international champion’s consent letter is written from home. Pathetic!

On a conclusive note, Mr Chairman, I would like to thank the Ministry for the confidence it showed in me by the appointment onto the Board. I owe it to all the other Board Members who have made it possible for me to walk away a more developed person – professionally. And, of-course, I thank the boxers for persevering despite them not knowing we are not responsible for some, if not most,  of the things that negatively affect them and their careers.

I wish you and the other members all the best in all future endeavours.

Sincerely,

Gilbert Munetsi

C.C The Vice Chairperson (Mrs L. Muringi)