Malawi Sports Minister Chiumia earns officials’ praise

Minister of Sports and Culture Grace ‘Obama’ Chiumia has earned praise from sports officials for her commitment and dedication towards work.

Chiumia receiving a medal from Ahmed during Chipiku league presentation
Chiumia receiving a medal from Ahmed during Chipiku league presentation
I can also shoot- Chiumia takes a shot symbolising Chiumia receiving a medal from Ahmed during Chipiku league presentation
I can also shoot- Chiumia takes a shot  Airtel Money Cup launch in Salima

This follows her constant engagement with sports administrators and presence in most sports functions.

A couple of weeks ago, Chiumia, who is the first ever female Sports Minister in Malawi presided over two separate sports functions taking place in Salima and Lilongwe on the same day.

She presided over the launch of Airtel Money Netball competition in Salima, which went from morning to late afternoon hours before gracing the prize presentation for Chipiku Central Region Football League (CRCL) at Police Headquarters’ Officers Mess later in the evening.

Fam and CRFA officials were surprised to see the Minister walking into the hall after hearing she was presiding over another sports function in Salima a few hours before.

CRFA general secretary Benard Chiwiriwiri Harawa did not mince words in applauding the Minister for honouring the invitation to the ceremony, which was sent to the Minister’s office barely a day before.

“As a league, we are very thankful to the Minister for honouring our invitation at a very short notice. When we heard that the Minister was presiding over another sports function in Salima, we thought she would delegate someone to this function but we were surprised to see her walking into this hall.

“This shows her commitment towards the development of sports in the country,” Harawa said.

Fam vice president James Mwenda also showered praise on the Minister, describing her as one of the most dedicated Sports Ministers during the multiparty era.

“Some people had doubts when the President appointed a lady Minister for the first time but the work of her hands had proved the doubting Thomasses wrong. It’s just unfortunate that she is serving the Ministry at a time the country is going through economic hardships,” said Mwenda in a separate interview with Nyasa Times.

Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) general secretary Carol Bapu shared the football officials’ sentiments, saying her association had always enjoyed working with the lady Minister.

“We have had a very good working relationship with the Minister. We still have fresh memories on how she helped resolve the stand-off between our association and Mwawi Kumwenda, who is now the International World Games Association athlete of the year.

If Mwayi did not participate at the World Netball Championship, where she was voted best player of the tournament, we could not have been celebrating her achievement,” said Bapu.

Several other sports administrators have also lavished praise on Chiumia for her continued engagement with sports administrators.

“Her presence alone during sports functions is crucial because sponsors get encouraged that government is behind them and it’s not easy for the sponsors to withdraw their sponsorship. I have seen the Minister even presiding over functions involving minority sporting disciplines,” said one observer, who was speaking off-the-record.

True to the observation, Chipiku Stores announced an increase in the sponsorship of the league from K7.5 million to K9 million in the presence of the Minister.

Chipiku Stores also presented a medal to the Minister for her dedication and commitment towards sports development.

Presenting the medal, Chipiku Stores operations manager Shieke Ahmed observed the Minister was also present during last year’s Chipiku League presentation, a development he said encouraged the company to do more.

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Congolese
Congolese
8 years ago

Having worked with the Minister I can attest to her absolute dedication and commitment to sports cause. The lady is just down to earth and those who wallow in mediocrity like comedian former PS Justice Saidi find her a bitter pill

Lawrent Banda
Lawrent Banda
8 years ago

Thats encouraging minister

Tim Made
Tim Made
8 years ago

Well done Madam Obama.. U a unique. Who can follow your steps?This is good news coming from my land.God bless my country and it’s people. Amen

Thumbs up Chiumia
Thumbs up Chiumia
8 years ago

Daily times is subjective and hates my minister and rated her poorly in their dirty ratings. This is what happens when you down tread people of faith and bury them alive. The Lord God, their father pulls them from the doldrums and lifts them higher. Shame on you. When you use the pen to cause misery a day comes of reckoning, you see 70 retrenched at once.

JCAM JACOB
8 years ago

congratulation……

Mbuya
Mbuya
8 years ago

Shame on you BNL staff for underscoring her dats y i said they dont know statistics dats y akukuchotsani ntchito wake up

charity nevi
charity nevi
8 years ago

It’s beautiful when you read of minister’s who are passionate about their responsibilities and getting such high compliments from a cross section of people from different sports disciplines. Keep it up Honourable minister.

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