North FA brands some of its delegates as hypocrites

The Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) chairperson, Lameck Khonje has branded some of his body’s delegates to the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) elective general assembly in Mangochi  as hypocrites.

Khonje, whose camp nominated immediate past FAM first vice-president James Mwenda for presidency, said in an interview on Monday that  he was disappointed  to learn that some of his members betrayed them and  voted for Walter Nyamilandu who went on to win the polls, when they had agreed to vote for Mwenda as a bloc.

He said the development led to their “embarrassing defeat”.

Said Khonje : “Going by the four votes which our general secretary Masiya Nyasulu amassed for the post of executive member out of the possible six from North, it shows there were some of our members who deceived us. Honestly, I am not happy with this and I will inform the North  about my stand once investigations are over.”

Khonje, who contested for the post of second vice-president,  lost to Othaniel Hara from Nyamilandu’s camp by 21 votes against 15.

He, however, could not mention names of delegates he suspects to have voted for the other camp, saying since it was a secret ballot, it was difficult to know the culprits.

Khonje, Nyasulu,  Obuwe Mwamsamali (vice-general secretary) Chauka Mwasinga (treasurer), executive members Andrew Phiri and Joshua Chinguwo were NRFA delegates.

But one of the delegates, Mwamsamali, has asked Khonje to accept defeat instead of making unsubstantiated allegations .

He said: “The votes were done through secret ballot, how will Khonje identify the hypocrites he is talking about? I suggest that he should stop making noise because he will end up attacking wrong people.”

But Khonje said he will expose whoever deceived the region so that  truth is known.

Mwamsamali, however, blamed the Central Region Football Association (CRFA) which they partnered,  for not fulfilling their support.

“We sought for a win-win support from our CRFA counterparts to vote for Mwenda as president and that Khonje and Nyasulu from North be assisted as well, but it failed. So, Khonje should not blame his members,” Mwamsamali said.

But CRFA general secretary, Bernard Chiwiriwiru Harawa described Mwamsamali’s commenta as unfortunate. Said Harawa: “If anything, NRFA should be ashamed for deceiving themselves.”