Malawi National Council of Sports board chairperson Sunduzwayo Madise has bid farewell to his staff at the statutory corporation, The Nation understands.
According to communication from Madise to Sports Council board members, he said this is due to the change in government which has seen Democratic Progressive Party president Peter Mutharika defeating incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, Malawi Congress Party candidate, in the September 16 General Election.
The communication reads in part: “It has always been the tradition that, with a change of government, statutory boards stand dissolved.
“In this regard, I wish to express my profound gratitude to the outgoing appointing authority for granting me the honour of serving once again as chairperson of the Malawi National Council of Sports, and to each one of you for the privilege of working alongside you.
“This was my third opportunity to serve in this role, yet I remain ever aware that no board chair can be effective without the dedication, counsel, and teamwork of the members.
“Together, we have walked a meaningful journey, and while our official duties may now come to a close, I trust that the friendships, goodwill, and spirit of service we have shared will continue to bind us wherever our paths may lead.”
Madise has since formally relinquished authority to the Secretary for Youth and Sports and the Comptroller of Statutory Corporations.
In an interview yesterday, Madise, who has served four months of his two-year term, confirmed the development, saying this is in anticipation of dissolution of statutory boards.
“I think it’s only right that the President-elect is given the freedom and clean slate to appoint a board,” he said.
Madise, who is University of Malawi Deputy Vice-Chancellor, was first appointed Sports Council board chairperson in 2020.
He was then reappointed for the second term in 2022 and third term in April 2025.
Under Madise, Sports Council introduced several reforms, including guidelines for sports associations in order to enhance efficiency.
The guidelines called for associations too hold annual general meetings as stipulated by their constitutions; have strategic plan sand 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.
Presidents of associations now serve two terms only and should have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree while general secretaries are required to have a minimum of a diploma offered by an accredited academic institution of higher learning.
During his reign, Madise also introduced Malawi Sports Awards.
Madise, who is one of the founding members of Super League of Malawi, also initiated standardisation of qualifications for technical officials in order to regulate coaches, referees and umpires minimum qualifications in all sports disciplines.
