Zambia Athletics Association (ZAA) long-serving president Elias Mpondela says he has no intentions of leaving the body.
He has disclosed that he does not get paid to serve in his role and must therefore not be perceived to be clinging on to office for monetary benefits.
After 26 years at the helm of ZAA, Mpondela has declared no intentions to step down from his role despite several critics calling for his resignation from the sport.
Speaking when he featured on Hot FM radio this morning, Mpondela said he expresses his passion through athletics and cannot leave the sport before his time.
“When you retire, you die. For me, I believe that when you retire you begin to deteriorate,” Mpondela said.
“Even if I am not president tomorrow, I will still be an athletics family man because that is a life that I have created.”
Mpondela further revealed that the ZAA presidency does not come with any stipends although some wrongly allude to his continued stay in office to be financially-motivated.
“Some people say he is getting too much money that is why he is staying at ZAA and then you ask which money because I don’t get paid. The payroll is open,” he said.
Mpondela says he utilizes his personal resources to support himself and discharges his duties as ZAA president complimentarily.
“How many people in this country are willing to sacrifice their time and be allowed to go through the ridicule I go through with the children I have who are all highly educated and well placed but hear about me being insulted even by those who’ve been fired severally where they work,” he said.
“How many of us are willing to put their time where they don’t get paid? I wake up in morning, dress up in a suit, put fuel in the car and go to a place just for the sake of the greater glory of God.”
He added: “No I don’t get any allowances. It’s when there is Inter-company relay then you say guys please help me with fuel for the car which runs on ZAA. I get to do this on pro bono and that is what many people don’t understand.”
Mpondela also revealed that he had paid all logistic costs using his personal resources while attending the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as government only funded his air ticket.
“Just recently when I got into Paris, I insisted and pleaded with government to help me and I quite knelt down and they gave me an economy ticket,” he said.
“I arrived in Paris and I found all the hotels fully booked and I was staying on my own and catered for my transport and eating all on my own, for what sake? For the sake of Mother Zambia and for the sake of getting those athletes to perform.”
Mpondela has been President of ZAA since 1998 and last year revealed that he would not bid for a new term as his current mandate concludes this year.
But with his latest sentiments, it appears he is not going anywhere anytime soon.
