MIDLANDS Amateur Boxing Association says it is delighted by the announcement of the Zambia Boxing Federation elections date.

The National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) has set next Saturday January 28,2017 as the poll date for the ZBF elections which were initially set for tomorrow but were suspended earlier in the week.

In an interview, today January 20, 2017, MABA secretary Christian Kalima said the announcement was timely and elections provided an opportunity for ZBF affiliates to vote in leaders who would advance the development of the sport in the country.

“The decision by NSCZ is commendable. As MABA we want to see boxing develop in the country and suspending the holding of elections would have derailed the development that we want to see. All affiliates are relishing this opportunity because the power is in them to choose credible leaders unlike what we are witnessing now,” said Kalima.

He said it was unfortunate the current ZBF wanted to hold on to power despite the expiry of their mandate.

Kalima also said his association had done enough to ensure that its preferred candidates emerged victorious at the Elective Annual General Meeting set for Kabwe.

MABA, who have been in a long standoff with the Thomas Chileshe led ZBF executive, have backed his vice president Kennedy Mubita to take over the reins of the federation that has been embroiled in wrangles over the years.