FAM exco to determine associations’ poll dates
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has said it will set a date for regional football association elections at its executive committee meeting scheduled for Saturday at Chiwembe Technical Centre in Blantyre.
This follows the end of two-year tenure for the current regional associations last December.
FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed the issue to The Nation on Monday.
“The two-year transitional term for regional associations ended late last year. We are supposed to have elections early this year and the specific date and venue will be known soon after Saturday’s meeting,” he said.
Nyirenda said rules pertaining to how the elections will be conducted and positions to be filled will also be discussed at the [same] meeting.
The current regional committees have 12 members each comprising chairperson, vice-chairperson, general secretary, vice-general secretary, treasurer, vice-treasurer and six executive members.
According to FAM constitution, the committees upon being elected are entitled to stay in the office for four years.
Reacting to the development, Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) chairperson Raphael Humba said the issue of regional elections cannot be discussed now because the regional committees are busy planning for next season.
“I am surprised that issues of regional elections are making headlines at this stage. I feel this is not the right time for that because the focus is on preparing for the new season,” he said.
In the North, some aspirants such as Dikoni Chipanga Banda have already declared their interest to contest in the Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) polls.
Chipanga Banda is eyeing the position of chairperson currently held by Lameck Khonje.
When contacted earlier to comment on the development, Khonje said Malawi is a democratic society and that Chipanga is not wrong to publicly express his wish.
“That is welcome development, we are in a democratic society and Chipanga is free to express his interest. We need people to come and join the management of football. I am ready to face anyone come elections time,” he said.
On his part, Central Region Football Association (CRFA) chairperson Austin Ajawa said he will comment when FAM issues an official announcement.
