Dissolved AAM exco remains defiant
By Mphatso Malidadi
Dissolved Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) executive committee went ahead with its extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) in Lilongwe on Saturday despite Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) warning to stop parading as a mandated body.
The members allegedly amended the constitution ahead of polls slated for February 26.
According to the committee’s general secretary Frank Chitembeya, over 50 delegates from across the nation attended the EGM at Falls Community Day Secondary School in Lilongwe.
“We have since adopted the amended constitution. We have changed our name from Athletics Association of Malawi to Athletics Malawi. You might also note that World Athletics changed from International Association of Athletics Federations.
“Among other things, we will now have a second vice president whereas athletes committee, technical referees committee, women athletics committee and coaching committee will be holding elections to elect their executive committees as opposed to the previous arrangement whereby they were being appointed,” he said.
However, Chitembeya clarified that the marketing and judiciary committees will still be appointed committees but its members have no voting rights.
“Members from the two committees will not be participating during elections because of holding appointed positions,” he said.
Chitembeya also disclosed that MNCS did not fund the body’s EGM.
“However, we will submit our EGM report to all stakeholders including Sports Council and international bodies,” he said.
MNCS Public Relations and Communications Officer Edgar Ntulumbwa said they do not recognise the dissolved body.
“Our position remains clear. We dissolved the committee and replaced it with a caretaker committee to oversee all the processes. We will not even receive the report because we don’t know them,” he said.
The development comes after MNCS warned stakeholders to avoid working with the dissolved athletics committee.
MNCS issued a statement on Friday asking the general public and the sports fraternity in particular to stop dealing the dissolved committee.
According to the statement, council advised all AAM affiliates including the Malawi Police Service, Malawi Defence Force, the Prison Services and all government ministries departments and agencies not to deal or be involved in any activity that has been organised by the dissolved stand-in committee.
A fortnight ago, the council also advised Chitembeya to stop using logos and emblems of the AAM.
