NAM to summon Mwawi over Fast5 absence

NAM has said it will summon Queens star shooter Mwawi Kumwenda later this week to hear her out on reports that she did not travel to South Africa for medical attention as she claimed.

It is being alleged that Mwawi was in the country when the Queens were participating in the Fast5 Netball Series in New Zealand a fortnight ago.

Mwawi excused herself from the tournament, saying it coincided with her trip to South Africa for dental surgery.

Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rosy Chinunda yesterday said they were aware of conflicting reports over Mwawi’s whereabouts during the global showpiece in which the Queens performed miserably—losing all their six games.

“Prior to the tournament, she left me a letter, informing me that she would be in South Africa from November 5 to 16 and for that reason, she would not make it to New Zealand. So, our assumption is that she must have returned on November 16 as indicated in her letter.

“However, what is disturbing is that upon our arrival from New Zealand we were informed that to the contrary, she was in the country conducting netball clinics,” said Chinunda.

She said it is with that in mind that NAM has decided to summon the player to hear her side of the story.

“We will have to give her a chance to be heard before we can map the way forward. We are meeting this Friday [tomorrow].

“But if the reports that she deliberately snubbed national duty are true, then it is very unfortunate,” said Chinunda.

On claims that Mwawi might have been frustrated by NAM’s failure to pay outstanding allowances, Chinunda said: “That as the case maybe, we would not expect her to snub national duty because we assured them that they would be paid and the dues were duly settled.”

Chinunda also faulted Mwawi for ignoring NAM in her clinics, saying she is supposed to work hand-in-hand with the association.

However, the Easiyo Tactix player yesterday claimed that she had not yet been communicated to about tomorrow’s meeting.

“Where am I supposed to meet them? Do they have an office? What do they want us to discuss, I thought I wrote them a letter? Anyway, I cannot say anything in absence of official communication,” said Mwawi.

But in a recent interview, Mwawi said although she was in the country at the time of the Fast5 tournament, she travelled and spent six days in South Africa prior to the competition.