Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) has asked all contestants for the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) polls to be democratic and sporty in order to have a free, fair and credible elections.
The statement comes in the wake of allegations from Beach Soccer Association that some of its members were being threatened for nominating Super League of Malawi (Sulom) President Fleetwood Haiya at the expense of the incumbent Walter Nyamilandu.
Interestingly, Monday a voice note was also making rounds on social media in which the speaker allegedly threatened the incumbent’s camp.
However, in a statement issued Monday, MNCS said it expects the conduct of all the contestants for the Fam elections to be democratic and sporty in nature.
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“MNCS will closely follow all the processes relating to the elections. MNCS expects contestants to freely express their opinion without fear or being intimidated,” the statement, which has been signed by the institution’s public relations and communications officer Edgar Ntulumbwa, reads.
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The statement further indicated that they expect aspirants to openly declare their candidature without fear or being intimidated and it also advises against using language or actions that will provoke or promote violence.
“MNCS expects candidates to desist from threatening or intimidating each other during the campaign period and the electoral process,” Ntulumbwa said in the statement, before adding that council’s role on the Fam Elective General Assembly (EGA) is to observe what is happening prior and during the electoral process.
“MNCS believes that the 2023 Fam EGA will be free and fair and the best candidate will be victorious,” the statement read.
On his part, Nyamilandu welcomed council’s call for free and fair elections without any elements of violence, intimidation or undue pressure.
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“This call has been made at the right time, given the never-ending threats and victimisation that my camp is being subjected to.
“Several careless statements have been issued verbally through voice notes and personal attacks intimidating and castigating Team Walter members as if they matter less or they have committed a crime for supporting my candidature.
“I support the call by MNSC because we are living in a democratic society where everyone is free to make their choice and exercise their rights,” Nyamilandu said.
As we went to press, Haiya was yet to respond to our questionnaire but he had earlier appealed to the football fraternity to avoid publicising hate speeches during the campaign period.
Haiya, who declared his intent to contest on November 5 after he got nominations, also called for unity during the process.
“My strong appeal is that let us maintain our unity of purpose, decency and respect for each other and the game for our football to develop. Together, we can choose a new path, Together, we can set a bold agenda, Together, we can re-orient and transform our beautiful game,” Haiya told this paper.
Fam executive member Madalitso Kuyera and James Mwenda were nominated for the Fam first vice presidency whereas Lameck Nkhonje and Othaniel Hara will compete for the post of Fam second vice president.
Felistus Dossi and Mervis Mangulenje earned nominations for the post of female representative while Muhamad Selemani, Alfred Kapanga, Chimango Munthali, Chancy Gondwe and Raphael Humba secured nominations for Fam executive committee members.
