Malawi Sports Minister Chiumia says can’t promise much
Newly appointed Minster of Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Grace Obama Chiumia has said she will do her best to fight for the development of sports in Malawi.
Chiumia, who was appointed alongside eight other ministers sworn in on Thursday at Ntunthama State Lodge in Lilongwe, said she was aware of the challenges that sports face.
The Minister said she would like to take the Malawi national football team back to the glorious days.
“I cannot promise much because I have to see first what kind of problems sporting disciplines face such as football and netball face,” the 35-year-old Chiumia told Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS).
“I know that the national football team used to do well in the past but it’s no longer the case. I would like to help the team getting the team back to its good old days.”
The Minister, who has also gone down in the country’s history as Malawi’s first female Sports Minister offered hope to Malawi national netball which has been doing the country proud with inadequate financial support from the government.
“The Malawi national netball has always been doing well at big international competitions and yet they don’t get enough support,” she said.
“I would like to ensure that the team is well supported so that it compete with best in the world.”
In a related development former Minister of Sports Symon Vuwa Kaunda has applauded the appointment of Grace Obama Chiumia.
Kaunda said Chiumia was no stranger to sports having been one of the Members of Parliament who have fighting for the good of sports in the august House.
“The president has made a good decision to appoint Grace Obama Chiumia as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture because she has been very supportive to sports issues in Parliament,” Kaunda said.
“To be honest not many MPs have passion for sports as the newly appointed Minister is and that’s why I am confident that she will do a good service to sports,” said Vuwa.
Chiumia will get down to business immediately with several assignments waiting for government funding such as the Commonwealth Games trip to Glasgow Scotland, Malawi national senior team preparations for Benin Africa Cup of Nations finals group qualifier.
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