FAM polls in limbo: Mijiga, Yabwanya, Somba Banda appeal against election process

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Mijiga Wilkins
Mijiga Wilkins
Mijiga: Standing against the polls.

In a twist of events, candidates vying for the presidential seat at the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) Elective Annual General Meeting (EAGM) on Saturday have appealed against the whole electoral process, subsequently forcing the polls to hang by thread.

According to a document made available to Malawi24, Willy Yabwanya, Wilkins Mijiga and Tiya Somba Banda made their appeals to the appeals committee which is being chaired by Justice L. P Chikopa against the decision of the Fa electoral committee in the matter of article 8 of the electoral code.

According to three, there was no compliance with Article 22 (1) as read with Article 22 (5) of the FAM Statuses.

Article 22 stipulates that 36 names of affiliates should be sent at least 15 days before the date of assembly.

“There was no compliance with Article 22 (1) as read with 22 (5) of the FAM Statuses to the extent that it has not been shown that the General Secretariat of FAM received a list of names from affiliates pursuant to Article 22 (1) comprising 36 names of General Assembly delegates,” reads part of the statement released by Justice Chikopa who is heading the appeals committee.

Willy Yabwanya Phiri
Yabwanya Phiri: Also against the electoral process.

Furthermore, the statement reads that the whole development has violated the duties of the Electoral Committee as stipulated in Articles 2 (1) and 6 (1),(b),(c),(d) and (e) of the FAM electoral code.

“In order to maintain the integrity of processes of FAM elections, hereby directs that the compliance with Article 22 (1) and (5) of the FAM Statuses,” reads the statement.

The appellants are claiming that the total list of the submitted names exceeds 36, contravening Article 22.

It has been reported that the appeals committee has ordered that elections will go ahead only if the procedure stipulated in the Article 22 (1) is followed.

It is not known whether the elections will go ahead as planned or not because as it is, a new list of affiliates has to be produced and submitted 15 days before the elections.

However, there were no comments from FAM’s general secretary as we went to the press but reports are indicating that the issue is now in the hands of Ashford Mamelodi who was sent by FIFA as an observer.

Meanwhile, Somba Banda, who is vying for the position of the first vice president has obtained an injunction stopping James Mwenda from competing on the position saying the latter has no MSCE as mandated by the electoral committee.

If the polls goes ahead, the Fa is expected to have a new executive committee by the end of business hours on Saturday.