Silver executive tenure challenged
Silver Strikers’ executive committee faces questions on its legal mandate following the expiry on Monday of its two-year tenure, which it has since extended.
The committee, which former vice-chairperson Oscar Mabulekesi chairs, insists on staying on for two more years to align with Football Association of Malawi (FAM) constitutional directive.
But the Bankers’ former officials Owen Munthali and Denis Kachikho want elections.
Silver conducted last elections on April 21 2013.
Article 13.0 of Silver constitution states that “members of the executive committee shall hold office for a term of two years” and cease to hold office when they resign, skip three consecutive meetings, become mentally unsound and upon “expiry of the term of two years.”
The constitution adds that elections should take place not later than four weeks after a season.
In respect of the constitution, former general secretary Munthali yesterday called for Silver’s polls.
“If the constitution has changed, then it should be ratified and endorsed. I am not interested in any position. I am not saying the officials should go, but let them seek fresh mandate. Let the constitution be followed,” Munthali said about the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) sponsored team.
The call for elections, whose electorates are registered supporters and RBM employees, come three weeks after Mabulekesi’s predecessor MacDonald Mafuta-Mwale resigned due to pressure of work.
Former executive committee member, Kachikho, in a separate interview yesterday, added weight to calls for the elections.
But incumbent Silver general secretary Mike Tembo yesterday insisted that upon 2013 elections, FAM through Sulom, advised clubs to align constitutions to a four-year term; hence, the Bankers will abide by that.
“As for our constitution, it is for the board of trustees to amend it. We wrote the trustees about the directive from FAM and they agreed that we should follow that direction for two more years. However, they are yet to meet over the way forward,” Tembo explained, adding that only supporters committee will hold elections.
However, Munthali challenged Tembo to produce FAM’s letter concerning the directive, adding that the association should not be dragged into team affairs.
One of the Silver board of the trustees members, Paul Chimimba, said they would follow the team’s constitution.
“We had a meeting over that issue, but we did not form a quorum and we did not finalise the agenda. We will see what the constitution says. I hear another recommendation from Sulom came up, so will address all that,” explained Chimimba yesterday.
Silver are affiliated to the Super League of Malawi (Sulom), whose general secretary Williams Banda yesterday cautioned that club change of constitution as advised by FAM can only “be ratified and approved by members of the club. If it was amended, then no problem. But general practice is that those elected on two year term should serve two years.”
Sulom executive committee member Charles Manyungwa presided over the Silver elections of 2013 with the aid of FAM officials and Fifa football administration instructor, James Mwenda.
“We are encouraging all football institutions that their constitutions must, as per Fifa recommendation, be in line with that of FAM. However, the current Silver executive was elected based on their constitution. It is only that assembly that has the powers to amend it. During the elections, we did not tackle the issue of FAM’s directive,” explained Mwenda yesterday.
