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The Malawi Disabled Sports Association (Madisa) will this year form a para-lympic body, which will cater for all the sporting activities of people with disabilities, it has been learnt.
According to Madisa chairman Jimmy Kadewere this was agreed at a recent Zone Six meeting held in South Africa where Malawi was also represented by Sports Council executive secretary George Jana and two physiotherapists from Kachere Rehabilitation Centre—Dorothy Chinguwo and Thandi Mughogho.
Kadewere said the formation of the para-lympic association will enable Malawi access funding for developmental programmes from international associations.
“After the formation of the association, Madisa will remain as an affiliate of the body with disabled athletes as members. This is because all the other sporting activities such as disabled football, disabled netball and disabled basketball will also be affiliates to the mother body and will be at par with Madisa,” he explained, adding that there are 13 sporting disciplines that are participated by disabled people in the country.
The Madisa boss also shed light on the difference between Special Olympics and Para-lympics, saying the former is about people who are mentally retarded while the latter is for people who are physically challenged.
Currently Malawi participates in para-lympics but according to Kadewere, the players were not classified according to their disability and disciplines.
Kadewere also said South Africa Disability Association has promised to come and train Malawian coaches on disability sports.
Some of the coaches who will benefit from the training are Aubrey Nthanje, Master Mwamadi, Joseph Galanje, Mary Gonani and Fanwood Chunga.
Meanwhile, Madisa has turned down an invitation from Kwa-Zulu Natal Disabled Sports Association to go and participate in a football tournament because of lack of funds.
The formation of the para-lympics committee is in line with the newly-launched sports policy, whose Article 4.1.3 states: “The Ministry responsible for people with disabilities shall collaborate with the Ministry of Sports to ensure equal opportunities to people with disabilities and ensure the availability of appropriate expertise in sports for people with disabilities”.
Malawi has of late seen increased participation in sports by disabled people, who usually take part in the annual Blantyre City/Nico Marathon in various categories such as amputees, bicycles, tricycles and the visually impaired.
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