Yabwanya disqualified

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) electoral committee has disqualified Canada-based presidential aspirant Willy Yabwanya Phiri on the basis that he is not a resident within the association’s territory.

According to a press release issued by the electoral body yesterday, Article 34.2 of FAM statutes states that for one to be eligible to be a member of the executive committee of FAM, one should be resident within the territory of FAM.

“Willy Yabwanya Phiri is not resident within the territory of FAM as he is resident in Canada. Specifically, his address of residence is 1891 Foy Street, Abbotsford, V2t 6b1, Canada,” reads part of the statement signed by the committee’s chairperson Judge Dingiswayo Madise.

Yabwanya Phiri yesterday said he was waiting for an official confirmation to ascertain the reasons of his disqualification.

“Thereafter, I will issue a statement,” he said.

The development means the contest for the hot seat could be a two-horse-race between the incumbent Walter Nyamilandu and Wilkins Mijiga who got the committee’s seal of approval.

The association’s former treasurer Hubert Mfune and sitting executive member Paul Mzungu have also been barred from contesting for failing to meet some of the requirements.

The two were vying for executive committee member positions.

“Article 34.2 of the statutes of [FAM] states that for one to be eligible to be a member of the executive committee of FAM, they must have a minimum academic qualification of [an] MSCE [Malawi School Certificate of Education] or its equivalent.

“Hubert Mfune did not provide any proof of attainment of MSCE or its equivalent or a higher qualification,” reads part of the press release.

In barring Mzungu, the electoral committee stated that he did not submit any profile “and as such the electoral committee did not have any information regarding him and subsequently did not have proof that he is/was eligible to be a candidate.”

Both Mfune and Mzungu could not be reached for their comment, but the committee stated that “any party not satisfied with any of the foregoing decisions of the electoral committee may appeal to the electoral appeals committee within seven days of the publication of this list by writing to the general secretary of FAM.”

The committee met on Saturday in Blantyre to discuss and scrutinise nominations of candidates for different positions in the FAM executive ahead of the December 12 polls in Salima.

Meanwhile, the committee approved nominations for James Mwenda and Tiya Somba-Banda to vie for first vice-president position; Pikawo Ngalamira and Othaniel Hara for second-vice president.

Those that were approved to contest for six executive member positions are: Alfred Gunda, Jabbar Alide, Rashid Ntelela, Daud Mtanthiko, Flora Mwandira and Masauko Medi. n