Battle lines have been drawn ahead of Super League of Malawi (Sulom) elections slated for Saturday at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi.
The battle for Sulom’s top job is between incumbent president Tiya Somba Banda and Nyasa Big Bullets Vice President Fleetwood Haiya. These are probably the most highly contested Sulom polls in recent years.
However, audit firm Crowe J& W Malawi, who are overseeing the elections, have disclosed that, through Sulom, they asked for maximum security ahead of the polls.
Crowe audit Manager Chifundo Makande said a total of 20 police officers have been hired to provide security during the polls.
“We are happy that Sulom has engaged Malawi Police Service to provide enough security. We want the elections to be free and fair. We do not want anyone to intimidate voters,’’ Makande said.
A letter from Sulom to Malawi Police, which Times Sport has seen, indicates that the league governing body has indeed requested for more police officers.
“The Super League of Malawi hereby requests the Malawi Police Service to assist with security (20) man power preferably mobile police officers (15) and other man power should be (five),’’ reads part of the letter.
A total of 48 delegates—three from each club—will attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mangochi. The clubs confirmed a list of their representatives by Monday this week.
Delegates to the AGM are expected to arrive in Mangochi today ahead of the elections.
Some analysts have asked the delegates to exercise maturity on the eve and during the elections.
This comes after experience shows that the delegates are ‘kidnapped’ on the eve of the elections. Peterkins Kayira said the delegates should exercise maturity.
“They should make decisions based on ideas not money. Poverty will not end because of what they will get on the eve of the AGM. That is cursed money,’’ he said.
Another analyst Parry Chinyama said the candidates should not lose focus ahead of the polls.
“It is important for the candidates to continuously engage the voters,’’ he said.
Both Somba-Banda and Haiya unveiled their manifestos.
Haiya earned a total of 10 nominations against Somba-Banda’s four. Incumbent Sulom vice president Gilbert Mitawa is facing competition from former Mighty Mukuru Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda.
Outgoing Silver Strikers Chief Executive Officer Thokozani Chimbali is challenging incumbent general secretary Williams Banda. Allie Mwachande and Solomon Mchawi will go unopposed on the posts of treasurer and legal adviser respectively. Nine candidates are competing for five slots of executive committee members.
