By PAUL JOHN, 28th December 2011 @ 11:00, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 2870
THE tussle between Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club and the President of Tanzania Ladies Golf Union (TLGU) Mbonile Burton continues untamed after it emerged that the latter has already appealed against her three month suspension from the club through a lawyer, Maleta & Ndumbaro Advocates.
And the Gymkhana Club, through the Honorary Secretary Nicholas Siwingwa confirmed the new development insisting Mbonile was suspended on legitimate reasons and her reinstatement as member depended largely on the outcome of the management meeting that would seat to hear the appeal.
Otherwise, Siwingwa said, Mbonile would have to remain in the darkness till the mid-night of March 14, 2012 when the suspension will automatically terminate.
Speaking with the ‘Daily News,’ Siwingwa who sounded alarmed over the phone noted that Mbonile, as member of the multifaceted sports facility was entitled to any disciplinary action according to the rules and bye-laws of the club.
However and according to the appeal statement, a copy of which was made available to this paper, it appears that Mbonile Burton was suspended in the capacity of the TLGU President and not in her personal capacity as a member of DGC.
In a letter dated December 15, this year, the TLGU president was barred from entering the DGC and other clubs which have reciprocating arrangements with the DGC, accusing her of ignoring official correspondence directed to her.
According to the suspension letter, the bone of contention emanates from an episode last July, when the ladies golf body decided to move the 2011 season of East and Central Africa All Africa Challenge Trophy festival to the TPDF Lugalo in Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania ladies, against all odds, maintained a perfect run to retain the trophy in the presence of regional golf power houses namely Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.
Tanzania had won the biennial championship two years before and its coming to Dar es Salaam this season offered a great opportunity for local women golf to exert regional supremacy.
The president was yesterday quoted in the press as considering the option of stepping down from the TLGU top post, saying she felt the suspension had undermined not only her persona but also affected local team’s preparation for continental championship slated for Botswana mid next year.
The appeal statement reads in part: “The management committee contravened the principles of natural justice as our client was not given the right to be heard.
The statement averred by our client to the press was averred in her capacity as the President of Tanzania Ladies Golf Union and not in a personal capacity.
Our client is not a member of the club by virtue of the TLGU President but in her personal capacity… Moreover, the management committee has never addressed our client over the statement as a member of the club, rather as President of the Tanzania Ladies Golf Union.
We humbly request for the management committee of the club to reconsider its decision to suspend our client from membership of the club and restore her membership.”
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