Malawi army clubs line up 7 candidates for Sulom polls

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) football clubs have lined up a total of eight candidates for the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) elections slated for March 14, 2015 in Salima.

According to information gathered by Nyasa Times, officials from MDF sides Moyale Barracks, Mafco, Airborne Rangers, Red Lions and Chilumba Garrison met at Kamuzu Barracks last week, where they endorsed eight candidates from the military for the March 14 polls.

The list, which Nyasa Times has sourced include outgoing Sulom vice general secretary Captain Thoko Chazema, who has been endorsed as candidate for the post of vice general secretary and Captain Gilbert Mitawa from Kamuzu Barracks, gunning for the position of legal advisor.

The following will be vying for executive member positions: Lieutenant Colonel Elvis Mwase from Moyale Barracks, Kazizwa Banda from Moyale Barracks but going under the banner of Chilumba Garrison FC, Godfrey Makawano- Mafco, Lieutenant Davie Gondwe- Red Lions and retired Warrant Officer Class I Gowa Banda, going under Kamuzu Barracks’ banner.

Former Kamuzu Barracks’ team manager Francis Shawa, who had expressed interest to contest for the presidency has reportedly been barred by his bosses from contesting.

Meanwhile, some members from civilian clubs have expressed reservations on MDF clubs fielding as many as eight candidates, fearing the development will turn the Super League administering body into a military club.

“Although these are mere candidates, we are uncomfortable with the development because if they all go in, Sulom will be dominated by officials from the military, who can easily take orders from their bosses. The military has four clubs and if Chilumba is confirmed they will have five teams translating into 15 votes.

If we add the 15 votes to the three votes from outgoing Sulom members from the military, the MDF clubs will have a total of 18 votes. With 18 votes, the clubs can easily push in candidates of their choice and this will be dangerous for our league,” said an official from one of the Super League clubs who did not want to be named.

Another official from a Lilongwe based Super League club called for the invocation of the Lilongwe declaration, which limits the number of military teams in the Super League to one.

“I think those who were present during the meeting that came up with the declaration to limit the number of military teams knew what they were talking about. It’s time we start implementing some of these decisions,” said the official.