Mwai Kumwenda rejects ‘private issues’ claims: Cheers new babies, moms at Chikwawa Hopsital

Malawi netball professional  Mwawi Kumwenda has rejected claims  by head coach Mary Waya that she could not join the squad for England because she has “private issues”, saying that is utterly false.

Waya told Nyasa Times on Saturday night after Malawi Queens lost 65-44 to England at the University Arena in Worcester that Malawi’s sole netball export who was not part of the squad “has her own private issues, when she finishes with her private issues, she will join us.”

But Kumwenda in a telephone interview from Blantyre on Tuesday told Nyasa Times that she has no private issues.

“What private issues? I have no private issues at all. My issues was the concern for the Netball Association to pay players allowances they owe them. That is not a private issue and I did not discuss this in private, I made my concerns clear and open,” she said.

Kumwenda earned the wrath of Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) when she pushed the association to pay Queens players their allowances owed to them about K100 000 ($200) each from the 2013 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in London.

“I do not want to continue discussing this matter in the media but I have no private issue, please,”  she said.

The shooter who plies her trade at Easiyo Tactix Netball Club in New Zealand said she was committed to play for Malawi Queens.

“I am always willing to play for Malawi. I am patriotic and will do all my best to help Malawi Queens shine,” said the towering netball star.

Meanwhile, Kumwenda continues with her countrywide tours meant to give out the over K5 million (about $10 000) worth of items she collected from her friends in New Zealand .

The tour  which she started in the northern region took her to to Chikhwawa District Hospital in the south on Monday where she distributed some clothes to over 40 mothers and babies in the paediatrics ward.

Kumwenda was accompanied by Diamonds’ shooter Wezzie Mzembe and Alliance Capital Sisters’ centre Maria Lameck, said she wants every item donated from New Zealand should reach intended people.