As fever is up in the air ahead of Football Association of Malawi (Fam) elections, the association has until today to open the polls window and announce the venue of the Elective General Assembly (EGA).
The elections are expected to take place on December 16.
Fam has few hours to comply with its own constitution by sending the notice of the General Assembly to its member associations by close of business today.
This is according to article 29 of the association’s statutes.
“The invitation to the General Assembly specifying the place and date as fixed by the Executive Committee must be sent to the members at least 45 days before the General Assembly,” the article reads.
Again, the association is supposed to inform its member associations on the opening of the nomination process from today until November 15.
In addition, Fam is expected to announce the nominated candidates by November 21 and receive any complaints by November 26.
According to the statutes, on November 30, the Electoral Appeals Body must do pronouncements of appeals.
This means the association is supposed to release the final list of delegates on December 1 before the final cut-off point for confirmation of the list of delegates to the AGM.
Fam General Secretary Alfred Gunda said the elections window opens today.
“The statutes provide for 45 days before the AGM as the time for notice,” Gunda said.
According to Fam Electoral Code’s Article 26, failure by the association to apply the principles of this code shall be considered a serious violation of pertinent regulations of Fifa statutes and shall lead to consequences or disciplinary measures.
Fam Electoral Sub- Committee Chairperson James Masumbu asked for more time before he could comment on the matter.
“Let me speak to the General Secretary of Fam first,” Masumbu said.
In an interview Tuesday, Beach Soccer Association Chairperson Gift Chimbalanga encouraged Fam to disclose the venue of the AGM.
“Let everything come on time; we do not want delays. The process should be transparent so that the elections are free and fair,” Chimbalanga said.
Incumbent Fam President Walter Nyamilandu is reportedly seeking re-election but he is yet to come out on the same.
Super League of Malawi President Fleetwood Haiya is also reportedly interested in contesting for the presidency but he has also not come out in the open.
Sports analyst Parry Chinyama is of the view that the delay will not affect the individuals to get nominations.
“There is still time for the process to take place,’’ Chinyama said.
Once the nomination process has been opened, member associations are expected to nominate one person per position.
