Teams win 1st round
Super League of Malawi has settled for an independent body to manage the association’ s electoral process following pressure from some teams. “By copy of this letter, all Super League clubs are required to channel all nominations to independent auditors Crowe Horwath Malawi located at first floor Meridien House, Victoria Avenue, in Blantyre or email:…
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has settled for an independent body to manage the association’s electoral process following pressure from some teams.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, Silver Strikers and Blue Eagles were in the forefront, accusing Sulom of compromising the electoral process after advising the teams to submit nomination forms through the body’s secretariat.
However, Sulom issued a statement on Tuesday night advising the teams that auditing firm Crowe Horwath Malawi had been appointed returning officers for the polls slated for February 25 in Mangochi.
“We wish to bring to your attention that Sulom Executive Committee, in line with the Sulom constitution, has resolved that your institution, as the dully-mandated returning officer for the Sulom elections, should be receiving all electoral processes for the forthcoming Sulom elections.
“By copy of this letter, all Super League clubs are required to channel all nominations to independent auditors Crowe Horwath Malawi located at first floor Meridien House, Victoria Avenue, in Blantyre or email:[email protected] or [email protected],” reads the letter dated January 31 2023 and signed by Sulom General Secretary Williams Banda.
Banda confirmed the development, saying it was done to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
“The Executive Committee has just given the electoral process to the returning-officer auditors to handle electoral processes. This is to ensure that we have elections that are free and fair,” he said.
The development has excited three teams that were mobilising others to join their cause.
Wanderers Company Secretary Chancy Gondwe said they were happy that Sulom had appointed an independent body to manage the elections.
“We are happy with the decision which Sulom Executive Committee made. They have not only adhered to our plea but followed the constitutional requirements. That’s what we wanted in the first place. This is how elections are supposed to be handled and managed,” he said.
Eagles Chairperson Alexander Ngwala hailed Sulom for the change, saying it will clear doubts which some teams had.
“The appointment of an independent firm to manage the electoral process is good news. Teams will no longer doubt Sulom. We are happy and we would like to commend Sulom for doing this,” Ngwala said.
Silver Board Chairperson George Kaudza Masina echoed the sentiments.
“Good governance entails avoiding conflict of interest. By receiving their own nomination, Sulom was compromised in a way.
“What Sulom has done is the way to go and this should ring a bell to clubs that Sulom constitution and statutes need revisiting,” Masina said.
The nomination process is expected to end on February 17 2023.
All the positions are up for grabs.
Last week, Nyasa Big Bullets Vice President Fleetwood Haiya declared his intent to vie for Sulom presidency.
He will likely face Sulom President Tiya Somba Banda, who has expressed desire to seek re-election.