Former Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) executive secretary George Jana’s journey as African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 vice-chairperson ends this year and he is not eligible to contest for any position after serving three four-year terms.
This comes after the AUSC announced that the body is set for elections on November 27 in Mozambique.
In a statement, AUSC explained that although all the four positions of chairperson, vice-chairperson, sports development technical commission chairperson and finance and marketing commission chairperson are up for grabs “[chairperson] Dr. Vetumbuavi Veii [Namibian] and George Jana are no longer eligible as they have served for the stipulated three terms in accordance with the AUSC Region 5 Constitution”.
Jana, who worked for the MNCS for 16 years before his retirement a few months ago, said it has been an honour to serve the Southern African Region sports body for three terms.
“It was an interesting journey that had its challenges and successes. I am humbled to have served the body for so long despite the perennial financial challenges we went through. Being able to meet different kinds of people from different sectors has also been exciting for me,” he said.
Jana further said he is undecided on whether to finally retire from sports administration.
“I have not made up my mind yet,” he said.
Member countries have up to November 19 2020 to submit their nominations to contest in the elections. The nomination includes completing a nomination form which will be accompanied by a curriculum vitae and letter of support from the minister responsible for sport in the incumbent’s respective country.
According to article 24 of the AUSC Region 5 constitution, nominees must be persons involved with sport in their countries holding a senior position, including, but not limited to, director of sport and chairperson or chief executive officer of a sports council/commission or its equivalent.
The last elections were held in Swakopmund, Namibia on November 5 2016.
On the forthcoming elections, the AUSC Region 5 chief executive officer Stanley Mutoya said: “Like any organisation that respects the tenets of good governance, AUSC Region 5 has had its elections in accordance with its foundation documents with religious consistency.”
He said this was one of the reasons AUSC Region 5 has distinguished itself as a respectable organisation in Africa and globally.
