Walterslide victory: Mijiga, Yabwanya drown in Walter
Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu retained his seat with landslide victory during the association’s controversial annual general meeting (AGM) held at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi on Saturday.
Nyamilandu collected 27 votes while Wilkins Mijiga had seven. Willy Yabwanya-Phiri had two votes.
James Mwenda was elected vice president amassing 26 votes against Tiya Somba-Banda’s 10 votes.
The second vice presidency went to Othaniel Hara who got 22 votes defeating Pikawo Ngalamira who got 14 votes.
The elections were, however, a far cry from football’s spirit of fair play as they were marred by controversy that almost stopped them from taking place.
Earlier in the day, presidential aspirants Wilkins Mijiga, Willy Yabwanya-Phiri and Tiya Somba-Banda, who contested for the vice presidency, obtained an injunction from the High Court in Blantyre restraining Fam and its delegates from holding the polls.
Anxious moments ensued including a long wait following hitches in accrediting Fam affiliates, delegates, observers, monitors and journalists.
The general assembly convened an hour late.
Fam president Walter Nyamilandu broke the silence that they could not proceed with deliberations following legal issues.
Nyamilandu then asked Fam legal counsel Jabber Alide to explain in detail to the delegates what was happening.
Alide said it was unfortunate that football matters had been dragged to courts when it was clear that such issues cannot be discussed in courts.
“We risk Fifa’s ban if we allow the courts to dictate football matters,” he said.
The general assembly reconvened at 1:30pm.
However, proceedings were at standstill as delegates waited for High court ruling on the matter.
There was a sigh of relief later in the evening after Fam, through its lawyers Patrick Mpaka and Wapona Kita, convinced the court to vacate the injunction for the election to proceed.
Before the elections, delegates agreed to put on hold some items on the agenda items and concentrate on the elections.
The assembly agreed to hold an extra-ordinary general assembly within three months to deliberate on the remaining items.
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