World Athletics says Malawi National Council of Sports has no powers to dissolve the Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) executive committee and has since reinstated the fired local leadership.

The world athletics governing body’s determination follows a review of a complaint filed by the beleaguered AAM executive committee following Sports Council’s decision to dissolve its interim committee, citing its failure to finalise amendments to the constitution and hold elections last month.

Athletes compete in a previous
competition

But Sports Council spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa said in an interview yesterday, they needed more time to consult before commenting on the letter.

A letter to AAM from World Athletics dated October 25, signed  by its senior manager responsible for member federations Jee Isram, who is also head of protocol, reads: “With reference to your letter dated 22nd September 2022 to World Athletics president Lord Sebastian Cuc, we have reviewed all the documents that you submitted [and] we have following observations:

“We could not find any express power in the [AAM] constitution in favour of Malawi National Council of Sports to dissolve the executive body of AAM, if there is one, please direct it to us.

“We have also noted that the delay by the authorities to respond to your submission of the draft amended constitution has disrupted your plans for the proper implementation of your Extraordinary Annual General Meeting [EAGM].

“In the light of the above and the fast-approaching AAM elective congress, we recommend that in the best interests of the sport of athletics, an EAGM of all affiliates and stakeholders be convened as soon as possible.

“It is imperative that at the general meeting, the constitution based on the new guidelines for national sports associations issued by Malawi National Council of Sports, is presented and that it is in line with requirements of World Athletics for membership.”

The letter further advises AAM to consult the Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) for domestic policies concerning sports in general in the country.

In an interview yesterday, AAM general secretary Frank Chitembeya said they had been vindicated on the matter.

He said: “This clearly vindicates our insistence that Sports Council ignored our roadmap on the adoption of a new constitution as well as holding an elective EAGM on December 17 as we had planned.

“It further vindicates us on our stand that Sports Council has no powers to dissolve the AAM executive committee.

“Now we will proceed as advised by World Athletics. We did not want to be embroiled in an argument with Sports Council and that is why we sought World Athletics’ intervention.”

Part of the statement from Sports Council on the dissolution, reads: “The mandate of the executive committee expired last year, but council gave them a three-month extension period to finalise processes for the amendment of the constitution and holding elections.

“This development has led to the association having several camps, thereby rendering it dysfunctional which is detrimental to the sport, the athlete, sports in general and to the nation.”

Following the dissolution, Sports Council appointed a five-member caretaker committee led by Justice of Appeal Sylvester Kalembera which was supposed to have its first meeting yesterday.

Other members of the committee are former MOC president Oscar Kanjala, Thokozani Kuwali, Chifundo Tenthani and King Rudi.

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