Chinunda ‘rejects’ advances for 4th term
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rosy Chinunda has turned down calls to reconsider her decision not to seek a fourth term.
A source confided in Nation Online that after the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) held in Lilongwe on Saturday, Chinunda met some affiliates from district committees to strategise on the elections slated for June 3.
“After the AGM, the president had a meeting with some affiliates who wanted to get her stand on whether she will seek re-election and to strategise on the way forward,” said the source.
The source said the affiliates were from Salima, Dedza
and Lilongwe, among others.
However, while confirming to have met some affiliates, the NAM boss said the affiliates asked her to reconsider her decision, but she declined.
“Actually, they were officials from five districts and they wanted to get my position on the matter and I confirmed to them that I will not seek another term of office.
“They tried to persuade me to change my mind, but I stuck to my guns.
“Sometimes it is good to depart the stage when things are good. I have done my part. I have secured [K600 million] sponsorship for a five-year period, we presented all the necessary reports at the AGM. So, I believe I am leaving the association in sound form,” said Chinunda.
On the possibility of her reconsidering her decision at a later stage as has been the case with her Football Association of Malawi (FAM) counterpart Walter Nyamilandu, the NAM boss said: “Not at all. For me there is no turning back. I have other equally important engagements that need my attention like in the Malawi Olympic Committee [MOC].”
Apparently, Chinunda did not state her position during the AGM.
Chinunda’s deputy, ChimwemweKachingwe, could not be reached for comment yesterday while the association’s general secretary Carol Bapu said she is still not decided.
“I am still in the process of consultation and once I am through, I will make my position public,” she said.
Southern Region Netball Committee (SRNC) chairperson Judith Chalusa, who was in the forefront demanding that NAM should set a date for the polls, said so far no one has publicly expressed interest to contest for any executive committee position.
“But what I can say is that at this stage, you cannot rule out anybody because there is a lot happening behind the scenes. Nevertheless, as a committee, we have not been approached by any aspirant,” she said.
