Secret ballot at fam polls
For the first time in the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) history, its forthcoming December 12 polls will be conducted by a secret ballot.
The development is a departure from previous polls where an open ballot was used.
FAM has since engaged Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) for technical support.
“We will need voting booths, ballot boxes for the secret ballot,” FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said in an interview yesterday.
“We thought we should engage MEC because they are experts in this area. I am glad to announce that they have accepted to help us.”
However, FAM will print ballot papers for casting votes.
“But we will still need the advice of MEC on how to go about it,” Nyirenda said. “That’s why MEC officials will also be invited as observers at the polls.”
FAM president Walter Nyamilandu, who is seeking re-election, hailed the electoral committee for the decision to involve MEC and the use of the secret ballot.
“The adoption of the electoral committee was deliberately included as part of the reforms of the statutes to enforce fairness and transparency in electoral process,” Nyamilandu said.
“I am delighted that the process is working to good effect and achieving its desired effect.”
His challenger, Wilkins Mijiga, also applauded the electoral commitee.
“I believe this is a positive move from the electoral body because MEC’s core business is elections and they are in good position to make sure that Malawi has perfect FAM elections.
“Football right now around the world has a battered reputation becuase of years of obnoxiously corrupt and scandalous leadership,” he said.
Meanwhile, the association has announced that the election venue has shifted from Salima’s Sunbird Livingstonia Beach to Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi.
“The last time we had elections in Salima in 2011, we noted that there were some security problems,” he said.
“The venue in Salima is also too small.”
The GS said FAM was targeting 100 people to attend the elections.
These include the 36 delegates, the electoral committee, FAM secretariat employees, the media, Malawi National Council of Sports officials, sponsors, Fifa and Confederation of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) officials. n
