All regional FA heads retain seats unopposed
Football association heads in Central and Southern regions are expected to retain their positions unopposed during elections scheduled for Saturday.
This is a repeat of what happened late last year when the officials also managed to secure nominations from all their affiliates without any opposition.
The polls were halted after some quarters complained to the Anti-Corruption Bureau that the nomination process was riddled with fraud and corruption.
The bureau instituted investigations and made several recommendations, among them an order for fresh nominations.
The nominations have produced the same results, with Raphael Humba being the lone candidate for the chairmanship of Southern Region Football Association while his Central Region counterpart Austin Ajawa also has no opponent.
Ajawa’s vice Goodall Chinjoka is also expected to go through unopposed alongside incumbent general secretary Bernard Chiwiriwiri Harawa and his second-in-command Antonio Manda.
It is only the post of treasurer which will be contested for by Charles Majidu Selemani, Mike Chimdidi Tembo and Mwera Gondwe.
Andy Chisale, Bwanali Missi and Hastings Chilunga are vying for the post of vice treasurer.
Harawa described the nomination process as free and fair.
“We did not block anyone from contesting. This was an open process for everyone. It is only that others have not been nominated,” Harawa said.
In the Southern Region, Patrick Mbalati will also retain his vice chairperson post unopposed alongside general secretary Dyless Kachala and his deputy Kingsley Simbeye.
Pharaoh Phiri is also set to retain his treasurer post unopposed. Eight aspirants are expected to contest for executive committee member positions.
Humba said they levelled the playing field so that competitors could join the race.
“I think it is either people have a lot of trust in me or they have no choice for my replacement. I am the only person who has been showing interest in the position of chairperson for many years,” he said.
Northern Regional Football Association Chairperson Lameck Khonje already retained his seat unopposed as well last weekend.
However, some sports analysts have said results of the fresh nomination process are an indication of the rot that is in Malawi football.
Former Fam general secretary George Kaudza-Masina said the current situation showed that many football administrators do not want to be part of the mess in the local game.
