Malawi umpires shunned for World Netball Cup
Malawi umpires have been left out of the officiating panel for this August’s Netball World Cup in Australia—a development that is worrying Netball Association of Malawi’s (NAM).
NAM vice-president Chimwemwe Kachingwe yesterday admitted that none of the local umpires are qualified enough to handle world games. The tournament will run from August 7 to 16. 
Whyte Mlilima can only officiate on Africa regional stage and he was on duty at the recent Diamond Netball Series Championship held in South Africa. NAM is, according to Kachingwe, grooming him to attain qualifications for officiating top level netball.
“It is very important that we have an umpire who can handle games at the world level as that helps increase the level of awareness of the rules of the game in a country. The association is aware of this and doing something about it. There are procedures for one to graduate from officiating at regional to world level,” Kachingwe explained.
The 14-member officiating panel, which the International Netball Federation (INF) has released, comprises Marie Louw Van der Merwe from South Africa. Another list for jury of appeal has Netball Africa and Botswana Netball Association president TebogoLebotse.
“These honours represent a significant achievement in the careers of all those selected, and the INF congratulates them on their appointments. When on duty, all officials are considered neutral. The INF is grateful to the officials’ national netball federations for their support to develop in their roles,” INF statement says.
Umpires: Rachael Ayre, Joshua Bowring,JonathanBredin,DaveBrown,GaryBurgess,PaulaFerguson,IanFuller,SharonKelly,LisaMcPhail,JackieMizon,YvonneMorgan,MichellePhippard,TheresaPrince,KristieSimpson,TracySmith,MarieLouw Van der Merwe,Joel Young Strong
Maureen Boyle chairs the INF umpire appointment panel whose other members are Margaret Deighan, Maggie du Plessis, David Pala’amo and Yvette Smith.
Jury of Appeal:TinaBrowne,OctaviaGibson,TebogoLebotse,Helen Robinson and Janet Wrighton.
