ACB alert on FAM polls
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says it will be on guard to thwart any foulplay or unfair practices prior to, during and after the December 14 Football Association of Malawi (FAM) elections.
ACB director general Reyneck Matemba said this yesterday when he confirmed receipt of a letter from a ‘concerned football follower’, who asked the anti-graft body to be an interested stakeholder in the polls to avoid scenarios of previous polls “that were characterised by dirty practices” such as alleged bribery of delegates.
Matemba said: “We received a letter [pertaining to the issue] and we will consider the request because it raises pertinent issues that need to be seriously looked into.”
Grandmaster Sports Promotions director Charles Nyirenda yesterday confirmed that his organisation that wrote the letter to the ACB.
“Being a concerned party in next month’s FAM polls, we felt it was necessary to approach the ACB to ensure that the elections do not go the way of the highest bidders across all positions being contested for,” he said.
The former FAM general secretary said considering that tension has already gripped the local football fraternity in the countdown to the polls, the voting process can be prone to abuse as only 36 individuals from the local soccer governing body’s nine affiliates are eligible to vote.
In the letter, the sports promotion body also appeals to anyone with evidence of bribery taking place in the run-up to the polls to inform the ACB so that the truth can be established and proper action taken against the culprits.
FAM Electoral Committee chairperson Sylvester Kalembera, a High Court of Malawi judge, yesterday said on their part, they have taken no other measures to ensure sanity ahead of the polls apart from the declaration of peace that presidential aspirants incumbent president Walter Nyamilandu and vice-president James Mwenda signed recently.
“There were only two camps whose supporters seemed to be going off-track. Therefore, their leaders signed a declaration of peace and we are hoping that both camps will oblige. So far, that is what is happening,” he said.
At the elections, the battle for first vice-presidency will be between Jabbar Alide and Daud Ntanthiko while incumbent second vice-president Othaniel Hara seeks to defend his seat against Lameck Khonje. Felistus Dossi is set to be ushered in as executive member (female) unopposed whereas Muhammad Selemani, Masiya Nyasulu, Chimango Munthali, Rashid Ntelera, Christopher Kuyera and Davis Saddo will vie for executive member positions.
