Emmanuel Mlundwa holds the mitts for Zainabu Mhamila, one of the children reached by the WBO Kids Drug Free Programme.
PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
The decision means that PST, which was renowned sanctioning mouth-watering fights, will be inactive until May 31, 2019. The axe fell on the Emmanuel Mlundwa-led PST after the National Sports Council (NSC) found out that the organisation violated labour laws by staging fights involving boxers under the age of 18.
Dar es Salaam. The government has suspended Pugilistic Syndicate of Tanzania (PST) for three years after violating rules and regulations of organising fights.
The decision means that PST, which was renowned sanctioning mouth-watering fights, will be inactive until May 31, 2019. The axe fell on the Emmanuel Mlundwa-led PST after the National Sports Council (NSC) found out that the organisation violated labour laws by staging fights involving boxers under the age of 18.
PST was also found culpable for using card girls under the age of 10 in a fight held on May 14 at the National Stadium, which according to the NSC, it was gross violation of the laid the laid down rules.
NSC secretary general Mohamed Kiganja told The Citizen yesterday that PST was given a chance to defend themselves, but could not give concrete reasons for bending the rules.
The NSC official disclosed that PST was first warned in 2002 for a similar offence, but they repeated it 14 years later. “PST has gone against the normal procedure; they have fielded the boxers as young as 10 in the undercard. That is not allowed and we have not taken it lightly. The organisation will have to serve a three-year suspension with immediate effect,” Kiganja said. He added: “We informed PST through its president (Mlundwa) and they had a chance of defending themselves, but unfortunately, there were no concrete reasons from them.”
“How can someone go for an eight-year old card girl? It is irrational. Those were primary schoolgirls.”
The Tanzanian constitution prohibits child labour.
He further explained: “PST has no academy, they are just doing business and not develop the game of boxing as they claim. Their role is coordinate and organise fights while the task of developing the sport falls under the Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT).”
He added that the NSC has also annulled Mlundwa’s appointment in the special committee meant to supervise boxing.
Asked for comment, Mlundwa said they have not been duly informed, but called on the NSC reconsider its decision, for it will have an adverse effect in the country’s boxing.
