Masumbu heads FAM polls’ electoral body

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has engaged private practice lawyer James Masumbu to head the electoral committee which will organise and run the association’s elections on December 16.

Masumbu will work alongside  Reserve Bank of Malawi legal counsel Agnes Sentala, Independent Complaints Commission (ICC) commissioner Christopher Tukula and auditor Maggie Namizinga-Kasambara, who is managing partner at CWT Consultants Limited.

FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda, who is also ex-officio member of the electoral committee, confirmed the composition of the body in an interview yesterday.

He said the electoral committee already started preparations for the elections.

Said Gunda: “In June, FAM held its annual general meeting [AGM] where the general assembly appointed the electoral committee and December 16 as the day of the elections.

“The electoral committee is elected in accordance with the provisions of the FAM electoral code by the FAM general assembly for a term of four years at the final FAM general assembly taking place before the elective general assembly.”

However, Gunda said the committee will announce the roadmap to the elections 45 days before the elections day in accordance with the FAM statutes.

He said: “This will mark the beginning of the whole electoral process, including the nominations of candidates.”

According to FAM electoral code, the association is obliged to exercise transparency during the process and must inform Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Fifa on the elections.

However, the electoral code prohibits government or any of its bodies from interfering with the polls.

FAM is also obliged to announce the deadlines, requirements, regulations and the announcement of the final lists of candidates; the voting procedure, ballot papers, urns, polling booths as well as how it will announce the results; verification of the procedure and appeals.

Football analyst Charles Nyirenda urged the electoral committee to exercise neutrality in exercising their duties.

He said: “Fifa motto is fair play. The electoral committee must show that they are neutral as required by the FAM and Fifa statutes.

“They need to come out very quickly as an independent body, before people start speculating that they are supporting a prospective candidate.

“There is a lot of public interest in the upcoming elections and being secretive will only lead to tension and loss of trust in the electoral body.

But Gunda said the committee is only following the laid down procedure in the FAM statutes and electoral code.

 He said: “These provisions are laid down in the FAM statutes and electoral code.”