Tiya fails to swim
It is said that everything that begun must one day come to an end. Fleetwood Haiya yesterday claimed the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) presidency after downing incumbent Tiya Somba Banda.
Haiya amassed 30 votes to bring to an end Somba Banda’s four-year reign.
During an elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi, delegates also re-elected vice president Gilbert Mittawa with 29 votes.
He eliminated renowned legal practitioner David Kanyenda who got 19 votes while Williams Banda with 34 votes, has been entrusted for the fourth term as General Secretary.
Banda proved too good for outgoing Silver Strikers chief executive officer Thokozani Chimbali, who collected 14 votes.
Treasurer Allie Mwachande and Legal Advisor Solomon Gomezgani Mchawi went in unopposed.
Chimwemwe Nyirenda, Daudi Mtanthiko, Henry Banda, Ronald Chiwaula and Akudzike Kafwamba have been ushered in as committee members.
At exactly 10:03am, an opening prayer was offered marking the beginning of business of the day inside the Nkhwazi room as law enforcers did their work well to ensure that no intruder was allowed in.
The meeting started with some delegates proposing that they go straight to elections but Banda insisted that they go by the body’s statues by discussing agendas for the day.
However, delegates agreed against agenda number 10 which was presentation of a financial report, saying they were not given ample time for scrutiny before discussing it.
This did not please Banda saying this was the second time in a roll for delegates to take the stand after doing the same at last year’s AGM.
By lunchtime it was then the main business of the day after the outgoing committee was dissolved.
Mangochi South West parliamentarian Shadric Namalomba and his counterpart for Balaka South East Chifundo Makande led an audit firm Crowe Haworth in handling the elections that saw each candidate allowed to come in with a monitor.
The critical hour had to come at 13:43 when results were ready.
Prior to the announcement of the results candidates were seen sharing some lighter moments but then everybody had to throw his attention in front.
The room was divided with Haiya’s sympathizers going into wild celebrations, in tears of joy while those that did not make it tried to pick themselves up as they shook hands with the victors.
“Today club clubs have not chosen me. Clubs have chosen to revive and rebrand the league. My first task as I indicated in my manifesto, will be that within 90 days, I will ensure that we have a proper secretariat.
“We are going to have a Chief Executive Officer, marketer and accountant. Within the same period we will have to ensure that we have initiated a strategic plan that can be a guiding tool to our secretariat,” Haiya said.
He said he will also ensure that he delivers his manifesto so that the game of football develops in the country.
In his outgoing message, Banda expressed gratitude for the time he has at the helm of Sulom since 2019.
“However it was a tenure of ups and downs due to Covid as at some point games were suspended and also playing without supporters but I am pleased that through the broadcasting rights, teams still managed to make money and excelled,” Banda who also served as Sulom treasurer said.
