Athletics affiliates defy council’s warning
A
thletics Association of Malawi (AAM) affiliates on Saturday attended a meeting called by the dissolved executive committee (ex-co) in Lilongwe despite the Malawi National Council of Sports’ warning against the move.
The Council told the affiliates, through a press statement on Friday not to “deal or be involved in any activity organised by the dissolved committee led by Godfrey Phiri as it has no mandate to operate as AAM executive members”.
However, affiliates from across the country proceeded to attend the meeting where they adopted the “association’s amended constitution”.
Central Region Athletics Committee chairperson Hermes Kasiya and Nyakambi Athletics Club representative Memory Chauluka yesterday said they attended the meeting as they were confused with the state of affairs.
“As children, who require proper guidance, we are confused as to which side to follow. Therefore, we could not do otherwise, but attend the meeting after being invited,” Kasiya said.
Chauluka argued that the council’s warning came at a wrong time when everything regarding the meeting was already finalised.
She said: “Apart from that, we are in dilemma on shunning the ‘dissolved’ ex-co because council involved it in the recent [African Union Sports Council] Region 5 Youth Games in Lilongwe despite its dissolution.
“To say the truth, this puts us in an awkward situation in terms of deciding who to trust.”
The meeting adopted the “amended constitution”, whose major changes include change of name from AAM to Athletics Malawi, coming up with the position of the second vice-president and the decision to stop the exco from appointing members of various committees such as coaches, women and athletes.
But Sports Council spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa yesterday insisted that their stand remains unchanged, saying the affiliates have to work with the association’s stand-in committee led by Justice of Appeal Sylvester Kalembera if they are to be recognised.
He said: “First of all, they should know their meeting was done without government’s blessings. We will also keep on reminding the athletics affiliates that the Justice Kalembera-led exco is the one that is handling the constitution adoption process and organising the polls.”
However, the embattled AAM exco’s general secretary Frank Chitembeya yesterday said the affiliates’ presence at the meeting proved that they are a legitimate ex-co.
He said: “Everything went on well as everyone had an input before the amended constitution was adopted.
“We are happy that the affiliates came in their large numbers as they know athletics rules and understand the normal way of our operations,” he said.
Chitembeya said they will send a copy of the amended constitution to all stakeholders, including the World Athletics, the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) and the council so as to start preparations for their elective assembly in Mzuzu on February 26.
