Divisions rock Lawn Tennis Association of Malawi

Tom Sangala November 16, 2015

237 1 minute read

Divisions have rocked Lawn Tennis Association of Malawi (LTAM) after two factions emerged with each calling for separate elective annual general meetings (AGM) set for November 28,2015.

Earlier, a faction led by out-going secretary, Christopher Kachale—after consulting Malawi National Council of Sports—announced that the association would hold the AGM in Blantyre.

Then another faction led by the outgoing president, Titani Muwalo, responded by advertising a similar AGM to be held in Lilongwe.

Ironically, a verbal tirade on the social media has emerged with Muwalo being accused of failing to pay K1,000 membership fee, a thing that automatically disqualifies him from contesting.

Muwalo’s camp has also accused Kachale of lacking transparency and accountability.

Muwalo said he was mandated to call for the AGM.

“According to the constitution, I am empowered to call for the AGM. Kachale fears a financial audit,” he said.

Muwalo could neither confirm nor deny whether he paid K1,000 registration fee as a requirement for executive member role.

“Why is this issue surfacing now?” he asked. “As far as I am concerned, I qualify to stand. For your information, some years ago I contested against former president Richard Mwansa and I lost. Ironically, a year later, it was the same Kachale who invited me to fill the role when Mwansa resigned,” he said.

Kachale said he was not moved by Muwalo’s claims, arguing that he did not mismanage the association’s funds.

“I am not concerned by those accusations because it is an attempt from their camp to block us from holding an AGM. I have never stolen anything from the association. Those that know Sports Council will bear with me that when it comes to financial issues, you can’t cheat them because they operate by the books,” he said.

“For your information, Muwalo, having been co-opted into the system, he was supposed to pay K1,000 membership fee as a requirement and he never did that. At this moment, they are working hard to block the AGM. We will see what happens because it is only the GS who calls for such forums once majority members agree. This is why we sought the Sports Council’s consent as they will be the retaining officers,” he said.