Malawi National Council of Sports has said associations that did not hold annual general meetings (AGMs) last year will not be allocated funding this year in line with sports management guidelines.
In an interview on Sunday, Sports Council chief executive officer Henry Kamata said associations affiliated to the Sports Council are expected to comply with the guidelines.
He said: “Sports Council developed sports management guidelines for all sports associations affiliated and registered with the Sports Council.
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“The essence of these guidelines is to ensure that the sport associations are properly managed in accordance with the respective sport associations’ constitutions, and in the best interest of sports and the public.”
The council boss said governance issues are key in ensuring that sport associations are run as sports businesses and provide a career path for athletes and officials.
Added Kamata: “Non-adherence to the stated guidelines will lead to freezing government grants towards the concerned sport associations until they fully comply with the guidelines.
“AGMs are an integral part of the sport associations’ governance principles which are contained in the respective constitutions of the sport associations.
“In this respect, it is imperative that sport associations abide by their own constitutions and regulations.”
He said the law mandates MNCS to regulate management of sports through the sport associations.
Malawi Boxing Association (Maba), one of the associations that did not hold an AGM, said they are planning to have it on April 12 in Salima.
The association’s vice-president Francis Kadzakalowa said it will also be an elective assembly.
He said: “Maba intends to fully implement the guidelines by December 31 2025. The AGM will also assist in achieving the same.”
Basketball Association of Malawi general secretary Peter Gomani welcomed Sports Council’s move, saying: “I find this to be in order because the sports guidelines are very clear on the issue.
“Enforcing this and applying it across the board will help sports associations to be holding AGMs.”
On his part, Volleyball Association of Malawi spokesperson Goodwin Mangani said: “We had an extraordinary general meeting in February and what is coming up soon is the revision and adoption of the constitution plus the elections.”
Sports Council launched the guidelines in September 2022 to improve sports management and enhance accountability.
Part of the guidelines read: “The guidelines seek to assist national sport associations and other stakeholders to appreciate and understand standards and conduct that are respected and valued within the sport sector.
“To provide a deterrent against unacceptable behaviours and practices which may be detrimental to sport development and assist sports associations to embrace best practices in sport leadership.”
It also says for any sport association to be recognised by the council, they must have a constitution that is in line and approved by it and with dictates of their respective international federations.
The booklet further says associations will be required to hold annual general meetings and elective general meetings as stipulated by their constitutions.
Reads part of the booklet: “An association must have a strategic plan and related implementation plan, produce a work plan and calendar of events, have an office with at least one permanent member of staff and physical address.”
It also states that a president of an association should have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree while a secretary should have a minimum of a diploma offered by an accredited academic institution of higher learning.
Under the guidelines, associations will also be required to declare all sources of funding from within and outside Malawi and provide annual audited accounts.
