FA Malawi presidential aspirant Yabwanya to appeal against disqualification

Disqualified Football Association of Malawi (FAM) presidential candidate Willie Yabwanya Phiri said he would be appealing against a decision by the football body’s electoral committee to disqualify him, saying he is in Canada temporarily and would be heading back to Malawi at the end of this month.

FAM electoral committee disqualified Yabwanya Phiri, sponsor of Karonga United, because he does not reside in Malawi which they say is against FAM rules.

The committee also disqualified Paul Mzungu and Hubert Mfune because of their failure to submit necessary documents like their personal details and copies of their academic qualifications, leaving the race between incumbent Walter Nyamilandu and Wilkins Mijiga, a senior manager at National Bank of Malawi.

“They based their decision on what they think not based on facts,” said Yabwanya Phiri.

He said his house is in Karonga so too his family.

But chairperson of the electoral committee Judge Dingiswayo Madise said the FAM Constitution clearly stipulates that a candidate should be based in Malawi.

“We applied what is stipulated for instance the Constitution says a candidate must be above 30 years old, must have MSCE, must not have been involved in crime bordering on dishonesty within the last seven years and must be a resident of Malawi. It does not say one should be sponsoring a fooball club, it does not say one must have a house in Malawi but one must be on the ground during nominations, you must be in Malawi during the scrutinising process,” said Madise.