Four aspirants for various posts at the forthcoming Malawi Olympic Committee (Moc) polls have been turned down by the body’s judicial commission because their nominations did not meet requirements.
Moc secretariat Monday released a list of successful candidates who are eligible to contest during the polls set for Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi on Saturday.
Volleyball Association of Malawi (Vam) General Secretary (GS), Jailosi Nkhoma, Table Tennis Association of Malawi (TTAM) General Secretary, William Nyirenda, Cycling Federation of Malawi (CFM) President, Andrew Mkwezalamba and John Samuel Melrose nominations did not satisfy requirements.
According to the statement, Nkhoma is ineligible to contest for the Secretary General post because he was nominated a week after Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) exhausted its nomination allocation of two candidates.
AAM had on March 4 2020 nominated Jappie Mhango for Moc presidency and Pearson Likagwa for executive member.
“Under article 16 (c) of Moc constitution national federations are entitled to make a maximum of two nominations only. This means that the nomination of Jailosi Nkhoma is null and void for the reason given above,” the statement reads.
The development means Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Technical Director, John Kaputa, is going to get the post unopposed.
Interestingly, AAM GS, Frank Chitembeya, will also be elected Moc Vice-Secretary General unopposed as Nyirenda and Mkwezalamba have been barred.
“Canoeing Association of Malawi nominated Mr William Nyirenda for the position of Vice -Secretary. But unlike all other nominations, this nomination letter is not signed for and, therefore, its authenticity is not guaranteed and ,therefore, considered as null and void,” the statement reads.
It further states that Mkwezalamba’s nomination for the post of Vice Secretary General had been rejected because Judo Association of Malawi had exhausted its nomination allocation by the time it nominated him.
“This, therefore, means that the nomination of Andrew Mkwezalamba for Vice Secretary General is invalid because at the time of making the nominations, the association had already reached its maximum two nominations,” the statement reads.
Melrose’s nomination was rejected by Moc’s judicial commission because it was made by an individual and not an association.
This means Moc Treasurer, Henry Sakala will retain the seat unopposed.
However, the real battle will emerge for the post of executive members as eight candidates battle for two positions.
Former Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) president, Rosy Chinunda, incumbent Khungekile Matiya, GS, Carol Bapu, Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) President, Pearson Likagwa, Mkwezalamba, Dennis Kumwenda, Osbourne Banda and Jimmy Kadewere are contesting.
Kenneth Dzekedzeke and Yona Wailesi will battle for athlete representative post.
Meanwhile, one of the barred candidates Nyirenda said some of the problems could have been cleared if the body had sensitised its affiliates earlier.
“It is painful but there is nothing we can do. If they had advised us earlier we could have avoided such mistakes,” he said.
Moc Administration Manager, Naomi Chinatu, confirmed the developments saying affected individuals had been communicated.
Chinatu added that Moc elections will go ahead despite coronavirus fears saying that the body will take precautionary measures as outlined by the Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation.
“Our gathering will not exceed 100 people. As you know that our voters roll caters for 48 people. We will then have members of the secretariat, judicial commission and few journalists,” she said.
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