One of NAM presidential aspirants Emmie Waya-Chongwe has pulled out of the race and has asked Sports Council to put the elections on hold and investigate allegations of bribery.
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) will hold an elective general assembly on May 29 in Salima.
Said the Malawi Queens legend in an interview yesterday: “I can confirm that for now, I have pulled out of the race unless Malawi National Council of Sports steps in to investigate irregularities in the nomination process, including bribery.
“I will be lodging a complaint to Sports Council shortly, urging them to launch an investigation because there are some aspirants who have been bribing some affiliates so that they nominate and, eventually vote them into office.
“There is a lot going on behind scenes and it is very unfair. We need people to be nominated and voted on merit, the playing field needs to be levelled.”
Waya-Chongwe further alleged that one of the reasons the results of the nominations have delayed is because some officials were doctoring the results.
However, outgoing NAM general secretary Carol Bapu yesterday said there’s nothing fishy going on behind the scenes.
The nomination process closed on Saturday, but the GS said the results will only be released today—three days after the process was finalised.
Responding to concerns from some quarters that NAM could be up to something fishy, she said: “I can assure all the interested parties that there is nothing fishy going on.
“There should be no cause for suspicion, no one can try to toy around with the idea of doctoring the results because affiliates know who they nominated.
“The delay is because we want to do everything to perfection and as I said, yesterday [Sunday], I was outside Blantyre attending a funeral and that is why I did not have time to reconcile the nominations..
“We will release the results by close of business tomorrow [today] after all the processes have been finalised.”
But Sports Council board chairperson Sunduzwayo Madise yesterday said they will wait for Waya-Chongwe’s complaint before determining the way forward.
“Otherwise commenting now will be premature and without basis,” he said.
Unconfirmed findings indicate that all the three aspirants for the presidency—incumbent Khungekile Matiya, the association’s former treasurer and legislator for Zomba Likangala Abigail Shariff and Waya-Chongwe—have been nominated.
Chimwemwe Bakali and Anastasia Kaphale are set to contest for vice-presidency.
The contest for GS position will also be a two-horse race between Queens’ legend Linda Magombo-Munthali and seasoned netball administrator Isaac Chimwala.
Vitumbiko Gubuduza, Diana Nkhulembe and Yamikani Kauma have been nominated for the post of vice-GS.
Agnes Chaima and Tadala Billie are set to compete for the position of treasurer while Cecilia Mtukule and Chancy Munthali will vie for vice-treasurer post.
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