Nhau News Online News that is accurate, reliable, trustworthy!!
By Gilbert Munetsi
Procrastination on the part of the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation to appoint a boxing board of control has been blamed for the tragedy that recently struck the sport of boxing leading to the death of a boxer.
Taurai Zimunya (24) died hours after subjection to head injuries in the third of a six rounds supporting contest at Body Active Gym in Borrowdale, Harare, last Sunday.
Though an autopsy is yet to confirm the exact cause of death, it is suspected he may have succumbed to subdural or epidural hemorrhage.
Veteran administrator, Richard Hondo, yesterday heaped the blame on the parent ministry for the tragedy, indicating it may have been averted had protocol been observed.
Hondo has served as chairman of the Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board for a combined 36 years, and for his contribution to the sport, was conferred with the lifetime membership of the Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC).
“In the first place, no one had the mandate to sanction that tournament because according to the Boxing and Wrestling Control Act Chapter 75, only the board has the powers to do so.
“It is there in the Act and in black and white that all professional tournaments are the pre-requisite of the board to approve, and not an individual or the administration for that matter,” the decorated former commissioner told Nhau.
Enacted in 1956, the Act seeks to protect all stakeholders of the sport, including boxers.
Hondo said during the entire duration of his service to boxing, there was one such incident back in 1972 which claimed the life of a Chinhoyi fighter by the ring name of Matthew Powerboy.
No similar calamity had been recorded in the post-independence era, a development he attributed to thoroughness by the boxing commission in assessing eligibility of each particular event.
But in a statement, ZNBWCB general secretary, Lawrence Zimbudzana indicated that despite the tragedy, due process had been followed.
“All the necessary medical procedures were followed and emergency medical assistance was provided at the venue before he (Zimunya) was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital where he received further medical care,” Zimbudzana said.
The composition of a boxing board of control requires that there be a medical doctor among the members, or someone from the field.
Hondo – who served on the past board whose tenure lapsed 24 months ago – is a former employee of the Physiology department at the University of Zimbabwe.
He was the chairman on the last board that comprised the likes of Ambassador Zenzo Nsimbi, legal practitioner Modercai Donga, referee/judge Patrick Mukondiwa and boxing coach Thomas Kambuyi.
Meanwhile, condolences continue to pour for the young pugilist with Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions of Zambia having donated US$50 towards the funeral wake. The stable was home to Charles Manyuchi for the better duration of his sporting career.
Prior to the OQBP monetary gesture, promoter Stalin Mau Mau had yesterday set the donations ball rolling with a US$200 pledge and Legends Boxing Club Director, Patrick Masters, donated US$400 on top of having met the medical bill.
A benevolent fund established by the Hondo administration may also see the family of the late Zimunya benefitting from the 10 percent levy that is deducted from boxers’ purses.
Mourners are gathered at Number 945 Dzivaresekwa Extension. Nhau/Indaba
