Small things are a problem. Now an infinitesimal and microscopic item called a virus seems to be the latest development in the big twist of the FAZ elections issue.
With the pathogen causing untold misery and sending the whole world in panic, the government of the Republic of Zambia has moved to try and arrest the situation. This follows reports that Ridgeway Muslim School, south of Johannesburg, announced yesterday that they were closing the school after a mother of two children attending the school tested positive for Covid-19 a week after visiting Zambia. The said mother reported that last week she came to Zambia on a business trip and upon her return to Johannesburg she had a slight cough. She attributed this to her bronchitis but later tested positive to Novel Corona Virus (Covid-19).
In a move that may or may not be related to this development, Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya moved promptly into signing and bringing into force with immediate effect two Statutory Instruments which will restrict public gatherings and non-essential movements, among others, in a bid to enhance preparedness, surveillance and response to the imminent threat of COVID-19 in line with the Public Health Act Cap. 295 of the Laws of Zambia. The government has also moved to ban or at least announced a restriction on face-to-face interactions at public gatherings such as hugs or handshakes at churches. Dr. Chilufya disclosed that despite Zambia not recording any case of Covid-19 but having recorded and been tracking those who had been to high-risk areas of the virus, he was also directing all public places such as meeting places, restaurants, shopping malls, business places, and other workplaces to put hand sanitizer for their clients.
The question now is whether the FAZ AGM will be deemed a risky gathering. And if that happens, it is yet to be seen if Zambia can then move to have a 21st-century meeting by video-conference or skype with members voting electronically since the constitution doesn’t allow proxy voting. Article 22 (3) under “Delegates and Votes” states inter alia: “Voting by proxy or by letter is not permitted.
This means to satisfy the law, the AGM has to go. Otherwise, we may have a situation where the Kamanga executive continues for some time beyond their normal mandate since a vacuum is not favored at law.
It is also worth noting that this could affect games in the league. However, if the example of South Africa is one to go by, then there is no risk to both the attendance at Zambia Super League games and the elective FAZ AGM. South Africa announced yesterday that the total number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus had climbed to 38. Despite cases of COVID-19 being repeated in South Africa, games continue to be played with the public attending them. No deaths from the virus have been reported in South Africa.
After emerging in Wuhan, China last December, the virus, officially known as COVID-19, has spread to at least 135 countries and territories. The global death toll is now more than 5,300, with more than 142,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization, which has declared the outbreak a “global pandemic.”
