Eighteen sports disciplines are set to miss out on Presidential Initiative on Sports funding after their respective associations failed to submit 2018/2019 financial reports to the Malawi National Council of Sports.
So far, only Football Association of Malawi (Fam), Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) and Judo Association of Malawi (Jam) submitted reports whereas Netball Association of Malawi’s (Nam) was thrown out.
The netball governing body has been asked to produce a detailed report of its expenditure.
Some of the associations that risk missing out on the funding are Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM), Malawi Boxing Association and Malawi Handball Association.
A letter to all associations, dated September 20 2019, states that narrative and financial reports were crucial to the country’s sports development, hence the need for all associations to submit the same.
“Reference is made to our email [sent on] 1st August 2019 in which Council was calling on all National Sports Associations that benefit from the Presidential Initiative on Sports (P.I.S) funding to submit narrative and financial reports for the year 2018/2019. We wish to advise that Council has not received any of such reports to date.
“Take note that such reports are very important to help the Council give the program a fair and comprehensive evaluation as administrative reports will indicate achievements, challenges and recommendations to improve implementation of the program whereas financial reports will ensure financial discipline and prudence,” the letter signed by Sports Council Development Manager, Ruth Mzengo, reads.
The letter reiterated that associations that failed to submit reports would not get funds.
“In light of the above, we write with regret to announce that funding for P.I.S for the 2019/2020 will not be made available to any association until the reports that were requested for by Council are made available to ensure meaningful delivery of the program,” the letter stated.
In a separate interview, Mzengo, who wrote on behalf of acting Executive Secretary Henry Mereka, said Nam needs to do more on the matter by presenting a detailed report.
“This far, football, chess and judo associations are the only ones to have completed the exercise,” she said.
AAM General Secretary, Frank Chitembeya, had not responded to questions sent to him on Whatsapp.
Chitembeya is in Doha, Qatar, with his president Godfrey Phiri and athlete Stain Lifa for the World Athletic Championships.
But Nam General Secretary, Carol Bapu, said they were finalising the detailed report after the one submitted earlier.
“The guidelines were not clear as we thought that they were only looking for financial reports. In the meantime, we are also gathering reports from the districts through regional committees to present a final comprehensive report,” Bapu said.
Twenty-two sports associations, except Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa), Fam and Nam, get K1 million per year from the initiative which was set up in 2010 to help in grassroots sports development.
Nam gets K30 million while Fam receives K60 million. Malawi Schools Sports Association is the third highest recipient at K3 million.
