NAM says Queens’ fundraisers still on
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) says although the Queens’ Netball World Cup budget has been met, they still need fundraising activities to fulfil other assignments.
The other engagements include the Fast5 World Netball Series and the Diamonds Netball Challenge in November.
NAM general secretary Isaac Chimwala said this in an interview yesterday when asked if the postponed Queens’ Fundraising Dinner that the First Lady Monica Chakwera is expected to host at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe is still necessary after getting K170 million from the government and K100 million from Malawi National Netball Team official sponsors FDH Bank.
The fundraising dinner was earmarked to help the Queens meet their budget for the global showpiece, which has now been reduced to K255 million from K350 million.
Chimwala said: “I can say we are now fully covered as regards the Queens’ World Cup budget, but we still need to raise funds for the other competitions this year because all our available resources will be used up at the global tournament.
“We also need more funds for capacity building including corporate governance workshops so that all aspects of the game are up to standard.”
The First Lady’s principal communications officer Priscilla Chimphinda yesterday referred the matter to NAM when asked about when the fundraising dinner will take place.
According to Chimwala, they are yet to discuss the possible dates.
The dinner was initially scheduled for April 6, but was postponed indefinitely because of First Lady’s engagements.
Meanwhile, the camping Queens have gone for a week-long break and will get into final camping this Sunday ahead of their trip to South Africa, where apart from competing in the Netball World Cup, they will also face World champions New Zealand in tune-up games.
They will also host Zimbabwe in another friendly match in the next few weeks.
The Queens are in Group B alongside third-ranked England, 10th-placed Scotland and 14th-ranked Barbados. Group A has Australia, Zimbabwe, Fiji and Tonga while hosts South Africa will take on Jamaica, Wales and Sri Lanka in Group C. Reigning champions New Zealand are in Group D alongside Uganda, Singapore and Trinidad & Tobago.
