Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) says it will hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to sort out a constitutional mess that continues to give the sport a bad name.
NAM general secretary Isaac Chimwala says the EGM will, among others, review how to ensure the constitution, which calls for women empowerment regulate the number male administrators in the sport.
The development comes after regional committee elections in the North and the Centre last weekend saw the number of men in netball leadership rising.
Out of the 10 individuals that were voted into the North’s committee, six are men while in the Centre, three men.
This represents 45 percent men. The Southern and Eastern regions are expected to conduct their elections this weekend.
The development also comes few weeks after the public, especially female contestants, expressed dismay with men assuming top positions during the recent NAM elections that saw male candidates Chimwemwe Bakali and Chimwala being voted as vice-president and GS, respectively.
Chimwala said: “The NAM constitution has so many flaws that can cause a lot of damage to the growth of the sport if we fail to hold an EGM to review it as soon as possible.”
The GS said although there is an outcry for the local netball governing body to regulate the number of men in leadership positions, NAM constitution does not state anything on the matter.
Anastacia Kaphale, who contested for the NAM vice-president post but lost, said there is need for a constitutional review to bring sanity to the sport.
“The constitutional review is indeed the best way to go. For me, having men in netball leadership position is not a problem but there should be a certain percentage given to them as is the case with women in football,” Kaphale said.
“World Netball constitution states that men should not be taking key position but ours is mum on such important aspects. Things have to change for men to play advisory role.”
The declaration of Allan Nkhonjera as Northern Region Netball Committee (NRNC) chairperson by a toss of coin after he tied on eight votes twice with Tamara Fweta last weekend was also considered a result of the constitutional flaw.
However, Chimwala explained that they were forced, to break the tie through the toss of a coin because of another NAM constitutional flaw.
NAM constitution states that its president can vote to break a tie.
But Malawi Electoral Commission and the Malawi National Council of Malawi felt this would expose which candidate the mother body’s president preferred. n
