Dodgy AAM Cornered
Malawi National Council of Sports says Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) will only be allowed to hold its elections after amending its constitution as proposed by its affiliates.
Sports Council spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa said in an interview yesterday that the athletics governing body has been dodgy on the issue for the past eight years.
He said AAM has been given up to end January to amend its constitution.
Said Ntulumbwa: “AAM was advised to amend its constitution eight years ago, but up to now they have done nothing about it.
“So, during a meeting we had with them, it was resolved that elections will not be held until that condition is met and they have been given up to end January.”
Ntulumbwa said the other reason why the elections were suspended was that AAM did not give Sports Council time to scrutinise the candidates to determine their eligibility.
He said: “AAM gave the required 21 days notice to hold the elections, but they were also supposed to set aside a similar period to enable the council scrutinise the candidates which they didn’t.”
Ntulumbwa said Sports Council has since advised AAM to engage other stakeholders to help it in the amendment process.
“So, it is the other stakeholders [affiliates] who will guide the association on which areas of the constitution need to be amended,” he said.
AAM acting general secretary Mzee Makawa said one of the key areas which AAM affiliates want to be amended is an article which allows members of sub-committees to vote during an elective general assembly.
He said: “Affiliates feel that since members of the subcommittes are appointed by executive committee members, it compromises their loyalty and they are bound to vote for those that appointed them and, as such, the playing field would not be level.”
Makawa said they are committed to meeting all the directives made by Sports Council.
On whether they will be able to meet the set deadline, he said: “That will depend on whether the affiliates will also be able to provide us with the necessary guidelines by end December as agreed.
“Otherwise, on our part we are optimistic of beating the set deadline.”
AAM executive committee’s four-year tenure expired last month and they were supposed hold an elective AGM on November 6.
