Malawi National Council of Sports and Cosafa have written Football Association of Malawi (FAM) demanding a report on alleged sexual abuse of a female official by one of the association’s senior officials during a recent Scorchers’ trip to South Africa.
In separate interviews, Sports Council chief executive officer Henry Kamata and Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) administrator and safeguarding officer Nobuhle Masuku told The Nation yesterday that they would like to know the truth and FAM’s action on the matter.
written FAM. | Nation
“We noticed the story in the media and we have written FAM to give us an official comment on the matter. At present, we are just waiting for the association’s response,” said Kamata.
On her part, Masuku said Cosafa is aware of the allegations, but would like to first get FAM’s official position.
“We have referred the matter to FAM and we are waiting for a response. We will first hear what the association will say and we will take it from there.”
The development comes after Zambian online publication Bola News reported that the FAM official (name withheld) allegedly demanded physical affection, including hugs, kisses and sexual favours from several women during training camps and friendly matches outside the country.
“The allegations first surfaced during the team’s recent tour in Zambia in February, where the official made sexual advances towards a member of the team’s technical panel,” the article reads in part.
“Similar incidents were unveiled to BolaNews during a subsequent trip to South Africa this month [April], where the team played two matches against [South Africa’s] Banyana Banyana.”
The publication reported that while in South Africa, two female members of the technical panel reportedly complained that the FAM official had askedthem for sex.
One alleged victim shared her harrowing experience with BolaNews after the Scorchers’ second match in South Africa, recounting how the official began by sending her text messages.
NGO Gender Coordination Network national coordinator Emma Kaliya yesterday said sexual harassment is a serious crime, but said she could not comment on the allegations without first having evidence.
“Issues of sexual harassment border on privacy as they mostly occur within the confines of two individuals. It is difficult to comment on such matters unless there is an official complaint and enough evidence,” she said.
FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda said he could not comment on the matter as there has been no official documentation on complaint registration.
FAM president Fleetwood Haiya was not available for comment yesterday, but he was quoted by BolaNews as saying that no complaint had been brought to his attention so far.
“We’re seeing the same stories circulating on social media, but we don’t yet know their source. That doesn’t mean we’ll ignore them. We will launch an investigation and provide a statement in due course. For now, it’s too early to comment,” the publication quoted him as having said.
