Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) is lobbying for an additional K2.7billion in the 2026/27 National Budget towards internal programmes and associations.
This comes after the sports governing body was allocated K4.3 billion towards internal programmes and about K6 billion for associations in the proposed 2026/27 proposed National Budget.
In an interview on Thursday, NMCS board chairperson Jim Kalua revealed that out of the K6 billion allocated to associations, national football and netball teams’ funding have been doubled to K3 million and K2 million, respectively, while other associations will share K1 million.
“Allocation for internal programmes and associations need additional funding because they cover a number of national and international activities,” he said.
Kalua cited the Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) as an organisation that needs more funding considering the upcoming 2026 Glasgow from J Commonwealth Games in Scotland scheduled for July 23 to August 2.
In her presentation to Parliamentary Cluster committees on Social and Community Affairs as well as well as Local Authorities and Rural Development, MNCS acting chief executive officer Ivy Chinangwa said council’s operations budget line of K9.3 billion minus the administration budget line of K5 billion leaves K4.3 billion for internal sports programmes.
She said: “The internal programmes need K 5.4 billion to be effectively be implemented. This leaves a shortfall of MK 1.1 billion.
“Other sports associations, [except football and netball] have been allocated the sum of K1 billion, but MOC alone needs K 1.6 billion for three must-do programmes.
“This means that other sport associations will receive nothing. Henceforth, there is a need for government to reconsider this budget line. The impact is to reduce the sporting activities.”
In an interview yesterday, she said the internal activities that require funding include three regional academies, women leadership programme, national development camps, Region 5 Youth Games preparations and actual event. Others are Sport for All, Malawi Youth Games, Annual Sports Day and training of technical officials.
Reacting to the allocations, Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) and Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) said the K1 billion is by far on the lower side to be shared by the bulk of the associations.
Maba president Francis Kadzakalowa said: “This is unfortunate considering that associations are working tirelessly to develop sports from grassroots.
“Furthermore, sports codes such as boxing, taekwondo and kick-boxing are bringing medals from continental and world competitions, yet they don’t get the most attention. Now that we have a new Principal Secretary and Minister, we believe this will change in the long-term.”
On his part, Basmal general secretary Peter Gomani said there’s a huge disparity in the allocations.
“Funding allocations often reflect priorities and focus areas. Therefore, that’s where government’s focus is. They talk fairness, but this is pure hypocrisy,” he said.
“Lack of government support has stunted the growth of other sporting disciplines and no one seems to care. This is why we don’t even have national teams because every effort to revive the national team has not materialised due to lack of funding from council.”
He added: “For example the last time we wanted to take part in Zone 6 qualifiers in Zimbabwe, but we failed to travel last minute because we were told there was no funding. It’s frustrating and demotivating.”
On the other hand, Football Association of Malawi hailed government for doubling funding for national teams.
FAM operations director Gomezgani Zakazaka said: “The K3 billion allocation is not far from our projection because our budget is at K15 billion budget and we had projected to get K3.9 billion from government.
“So, it is a big increase considering where we are coming from. In the past, we could be allocated K200 million after presenting a K2 billion budget.”
He said the association is hopeful of getting additional funding.
