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| Sports |
| AGM to discuss Gwaza’s fate |
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by
Oris Chimenya, 05 January 2005
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11:04:46
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As the investigations at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association of Malawi (Ocgam) continue, the body’s secretariat has summoned all its affiliates to an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to discuss the fate of its suspended general secretary James Gwaza.
Gwaza was suspended two weeks ago for three months in order to pave way for a free and independent investigation into an air tickets scam involving the Malawi’s National Olympic Committee (NOC).
It is alleged that Gwaza included seven people on the list of athletes who travelled to Athens, Greece last year for the Olympic Games which took place from August 13 to 29. The seven people dropped-off in London.
According to the letter, Ocgam is currently facing financial problems and will therefore not reimburse representatives’ transport and accommodation costs apart from giving them an allowance of K2,000 ($18) each.
Ocgam vice general secretary Helene Mpinganjira confirmed the EGM which is scheduled for College of Medicine in Blantyre on January 15.
“We just want to inform our affiliates on the suspension of Mr James Gwaza as Ocgam general secretary,” she said, adding that the affiliates will decide on the next course of action.
She explained that the EGM is not on short notice because it is within the 21 days provided for in its constitution as the maximum number of days within which it can call for an EGM starting from the day of occurrence of the subject matter.
Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) general secretary Leonard Sharra, while confirming receiving the invitation, said the meeting is the right forum for the affiliates to decide Gwaza’s fate if he is found of any wrong doing.
“It is true that people are beginning to lose confidence in the association and they want to see all these issues cleared.
Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) general secretary Haxson Chapasa said: “We have been told to send president and the general secretary. We are ready to attend the meeting because it is a very important one since it does not only affect Ocgam but the country’s entire sports fraternity,” said Chapasa.
Malawi sent two athletes (Kondwani Chiwina and Catherine Chikwakwa), two swimmers (Han Choi and Yona Walesi), and seven sports administrators to the Olympics, a trip which was partly sponsored by the taxpayers’ money to the tune of K2 million. |
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