Queens’ allowances stagnate for five years
Government and the Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) have failed to effect Malawi Queens’ allowance and bonus increments for over five years despite promising a 50 percent rise in 2012.
Meanwhile, NAM has revealed that it has suspended the allowances review, arguing it does not have funds. If the body holds its words, the players that begin camp early next month in preparation for the Fast5 World Championship will be receiving a daily training allowance of K1 000 each.
The prevailing game bonus is at K20 000 for a win and K10 000 for a draw. When playing abroad, each player will continue to receive $50 (K35 000) as a daily external travel allowance.
“It’s around five years since the allowances were revised. Currently, we don’t have funds. For now, the financial review has been suspended until in the unforeseen future,” NAM president Rosy Chinunda said yesterday.
She said low government funding has contributed to their failure to effect the allowances review.
“As you might be aware, the annual subvention we receive from government has been minimal. We don’t have any other stable source of income than government,” she said referring to the already exhausted K32 million which Parliament approved in the current budget.
Government, through the then Sports Minister Enock Chihana, announced in 2012 that it will put the Queens allowances at par with the Malawi national football team.
The Flames’ players, as approved by government, receive K1 000 as training allowance but Football Association of Malawi (FAM) reportedly tops up with K5 000.
Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development principal secretary Sam Madula could not comment on the issue yesterday, saying he was in a meeting.
However, Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS), which links the government and various sports associations, said it was not part of the government’s promise.
Queens captain Caroline Mtukule described lack of increment as a sad development.
“The cost of living has gone up over the years and we would have really liked to have the allowances increased. What it means is that we can’t progress financially as players despite sweating for our country,” she said.
Mtukule has, in the meantime, asked NAM and government to come up with avenues to push for the instant increments. n
