Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) has been caught off-guard after its major sponsors, government and Airtel Malawi Limited, demanded detailed financial reports.
Nam has of late come under attack as some quarters question the association’s transparency and accountability.
According to sources, Airtel Malawi, through its brand Airtel Money, demanded financial reports following allegations of financial irregularities at Nam.
Sources also alleged that the Ministry of Youth and Culture and Airtel were growing impatient with reports that Nam owe Queens players allowances, whose funding the mobile phone service company and government provided.
Sources indicate that Airtel Money asked Nam to submit reports with backing documents. Eventually, the review meeting took place on Friday at Airtel head office in Lilongwe.
Airtel Money marketing manager, Masiye Mazaza, confirmed the meeting, which reviewed how Nam used K17 million funding.
Last year, Airtel gave Nam about K7 million for Malawi Queens’ camping and an additional K10 million for the same cause before the team left for the Netball World Cup in Australia.
“It was not a big deal. We had to review our package before the second season starts. Of course, we gave Nam K10 million and also K7 million for local camping. We wanted to see how the funds were used and if they were used rightly,” Mazaza said.
Mazaza also highlighted that, in most cases, Airtel handles payments upon request from Nam.
“The large chunk of sponsorship is handled by us. We provide funding when Nam asks for services and equipments. So, we deal directly with the supplier and not Nam. In this case, we were just following up on how they used the money we gave them for local camping,” he said.
Mazaza also asked grieving players to report any issues to the company rather relying on the social media.
“We are an open institution and we value communication,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Sports and Culture, Grace Chiumia, has said they have advised Nam to submit financial reports having never been served with one before.
“I took them to task and they claimed that they submit to Malawi National Council of Sports. Yet, the arrangement is that whenever they submit to Sports Council, they also need to share us [the government] a copy,” she said, adding that they would summon Nam to discuss financial and management issues.
Nam president, Rosy Chinunda, yesterday confirmed the meeting, but declined to disclose what transpired, saying “if you need anything you can contact Mr. Mazaza from Airtel. He will be better placed to comment.”
Airtel Money has been supporting Malawi’s netball since 2013 when the three-year sponsorship was launched.
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