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Sports
Ocgam seeks MPs on budget
by Leonard Sharra and Garry Chirwa, 17 June 2006 - 05:17:45
With strong indications that government has significantly slashed Sports Council’s allocation in the 2006/2007 budget that was presented in Parliament on Friday, Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association of Malawi (Ocgam) has moved in to lobby for more sports funding from Members of Parliament.
About K87 million was allocated to Sports Council last year and only K30,759,000 of the amount went towards sports associations’ activities. The situation is likely to be worse this year with reports that the allocation has been cut by almost half in this year’s budget.
Having got wind of the sad news, Ocgam called for a meeting with members of the Social and Community Affairs Committee of Parliament, who were briefed about the problems sports associations were facing in their efforts to develop sports.
At the meeting, which took place at Lilongwe Hotel Thursday evening, the legislators were presented with a breakdown for funding allocations to different sports associations in the 2005/06 financial year.
The figures presented showed Football Association of Malawi (Fam) got the highest allocation of K20 million with Lawn Tennis getting the least sum of K449,000. Netball and athletics, which have helped put Malawi on the world map got a meagre K1 million each.
Boxing was allocated K700,000, but according to Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) secretary general, Henry Sakala who was present at the meeting, the association is still struggling to get a K300,000 balance from Council.
The Parliamentarians, who turned up in good numbers were also stunned to learn from Ocgam president Floriano Massa that the national Olympic body forfeited its K3.4 million allocation from the government, which Council is reported to have treated as repayment for the K3 million given to Ocgam for participation at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Quoting former Sports Minister Henry Chimunthu Banda’s comments in the press, Ocgam has been claiming the money was a grant while Council was insisting it was a loan.
The meeting also learnt that Fam drew almost three times its allocation due to national teams’ assignments. Massa then asked the MPs to ask for a separate funding for football so that the sport should not be seen to be overspending.
The MPs supported the idea, saying it was feasible that the full allocations for football appear in the budget.
Ocgam explained to the MPs that the amounts allocated to various sports disciplines were not adequate for meaningful sports development programmes and participation in international competitions.
“The goal for every athlete is to represent his nation at international level but with such allocations, how can associations take part in international events?” queried Massa.
The MPs inquired why disciplines like football were able to perform in the past, when there were ‘very little’ allocations and incentives in sports. But the Ocgam boss had a ready answer:
“Just the expectation that athletes would shake hands with Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu after performing well was enough motivation for our former athletes but these days sports has become commercial. Unlike in the past, people are making a living out of sports and the issue of money has become crucial.”
After quizzing the Ocgam board if associations were also able to raise funds on their own, the Parliamentarians appreciated the problems and pledged to lobby for more sports funding in Parliament.
They also pledged to move a motion in Parliament, persuading government to start recognising sports as another priority area.
“We thank Ocgam board for the step it has taken. Indeed there are a lot of challenges that sports is facing in the country and I am certain—whether in the long or short term—that something will come out of this interaction,” said Chairperson of the Social and Community Affairs Committee Triffonia Dafter in her closing remarks.
Contacted for his comment on the meeting, Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Jaffallie Mussa, who did not attend the meeting said he was happy that MPs were able to appreciate problems that sports was facing.
“As Minister responsible, I need more funding to fulfil most of the sports development programmes and I will be very grateful if MPs will rise to ask for more funding in sports,” said Mussa.
The Minister said he could not comment on the allocation to Sports Council before presentation of the budget but admitted that slashing of the Council’s budget would bring serious consequences.
However, while commending the move taken by Ocgam, some associations felt they should have been consulted for their input.
Fam president Walter Nyamilandu said the need for increased funding for sports disciplines is long overdue.
“There is desperate need for government to consider increasing the funding towards sports. The level of our sports disciplines is very low when we compare ourselves to other countries within the Sadc region and if Ocgam is lobbying, it’s a wonderful development.
“But in my view, they could have done better if they had used the right channels by consulting all sports disciplines that are affiliated to Ocgam so that all issues are addressed in a holistic manner.
“The move should have also been made through the right channels—Sports Council and the Ministry of Sports for our concerns to be addressed,” said the Fam boss.
He also said through discussions with the Council and the Sports Ministry, Fam has been assured of increased funding.
Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) vice general secretary Chimwemwe Festino-Jere also shared Nyamilandu’s views saying: “Our concern is that if we are disjointed in the way we lobby our MPs, then we might not achieve the desired results, we need to lobby with one voice and with the guidance of the Ministry of Sports and Sports Council.”
Festino-Jere also said it would be unfortunate if funding for the sports budget will be cut considering the pledge made by government that it would seriously increase funding for sports.
 
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