Msukwa, Chiutsi get international positions

Former Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) president Kezzie Msukwa has been elected Africa Chess Confederation (ACC) general secretary (GS) while Malawi Paralympics Committee (MPC) boss James Chiutsi has been appointed International Paralympics Committee’s (IPC) education committee member.

Msukwa, who is the current Zone 4.3 Chess president, claimed the post after being on the ticket of eventual winner of the ACC presidential seat Zambian Lewis Ncube during elections conducted  Wednesday on the sidelines of the on-going World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.

Ncube defeated Ivorian Essoh Essis by 23 votes to 21 to retain the hot-seat. This meant that he was ushered into office alongside five other members that were in his team during the polls, including Msukwa.

“We are on cloud nine that one of Malawi’s sons has assumed the GS mantle at the continental level. This is a big achievement as a country because we stand on a good position to benefit from chess developments due to his availability in the ACC fold,” said Chessam) spokesperson Alfred Chimthere.

on his part, Chiutsi, who underwent orientation for his new post in Bonn, Germany last weekend, said he has been roped into the IPC education committee due to the strides that MPC has made over the past five years and his personal commitment to Paralympics.

“Developing countries, especially in Africa, need more awareness and education on Paralympics games. I will use my time in the committee to ensure that sport for people with disabilities gains recognition in the continent and the world,” he said.

Msukwa and Chiutsi’s achievements are a continuation of Malawi sports administrators’ success on the international stage this year. Recently, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu won the Fifa Council membership elections while Association of Draughts in Malawi (Adma) GS Suzgo Nkhoma was elected International Draughts Federation (IDF) vice-president.n