Chairperson of Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Electoral body Justice Sylvester Kalembera has warned member associations against breaching association’s statutes regarding the nomination process which officially closes today.
The development comes after some Fam member associations including Super League of Malawi (Sulom) and National Youth Football Association (NYFA) decided against nominating any candidate ahead of the December 14 polls set for Mangochi.
In a statement, Kalembera said failure to nominate the candidates might lead to jeopardising the electoral process.
“It has come to the attention of the electoral Committee that some Member Associations have not complied or have not fully complied with the provisions of Article 39 of the statues in making their nominations. The clear intention arising from the wording of these provisions is that the nomination of candidates for all positions by the Member Associations is not optional but mandatory,” reads part of the statement.
“As such, any failure or omission on the part of any Member to nominate one candidate for each of the given positions is a breach of the statutes that governs the Fam elections. The absurd consequence of making the nomination process optional is that, among other things it creates room for the absurd eventuality where all or some of the positions receive no nominations, thereby making the electoral impossible or incomplete.”
So far, two front runners in the Fam Presidential race incumbent President Walter Nyamilandu and his first vice James Mwenda have received two nominations each. Nyamilandu has received nomination from National Referees Association and National Women’s Football Association (NWFA) whereas Mwenda earlier got nominations from Beach Soccer Association and Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) ahead of the polls.
Daudi Mtanthiko and Jabber Alide who are contesting for the position of first vice president have also received nominations just like Othaniel Hara and Lameck Khonje.
Rashid Ntelera, Chimango Munthali, Masiya Nyasulu, Mohammad Selemani and Felister Dossi have also received nominations for the position of Fam executive committee members.
In an interview yesterday, Sulom President Tiya Somba-Banda said the league governing body was expected to meet last night.
“The committee will sit down and discuss the issue during our executive meeting. I just want also to make it clear we never said we will not take part in the nomination process,” he said.
Part of Article 39 of Fam statutes states that: “Every candidate must be nominated by at least one member. Nominations for candidates must reach the General Secretary no later than thirty days before the date of the General Assembly at which the elections will take place.
With the deadline today, Fam General Secretary, Alfred Gunda said as of Tuesday, only two member associations had submitted their nominations which means seven associations were yet to submit.
Central Region Football Association failed to reach an agreement on Tuesday but they were also meeting yesterday.
Meanwhile, Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) has also nominated a Nyamilandu-led camp.
SRFA chairman Raphael Humba said they opted for Nyamilandu because his manifesto was comprehensive.
“We felt his manifesto is generally good for all the bodies so we know that we wil not be left out,” he said
