Chess Association of Malawi (CHESSAM) presidential aspirant Mark Ndipita has promised to overhaul decision-making at the association, saying major international nominations will no longer be left to the discretion of one individual if he wins the October elections.
Ndipita’s promise comes amid a public dispute between current CHESSAM president Mpilo Mizere and former president Susan Namangale over her failed bid for the FIDE Vice-President position.
Namangale says CHESSAM declined to nominate her for the international position, forcing her to seek nominations from other federations. She eventually secured 58 votes and finished fifth in the election.
Mizere, however, says he initially agreed to nominate Namangale but changed his position after becoming uncomfortable with what he described as her aggressive and divisive conduct towards some African chess leaders during the campaign.
He says he discussed the matter privately with Namangale and offered to reconsider the nomination if she toned down her approach. According to Mizere, she declined the condition.
Namangale has rejected that characterisation, saying she was neither rude nor divisive and was simply campaigning strongly for her preferred presidential candidate as a member of an African campaign team.
She has also questioned whether the decision not to nominate her was a personal decision by Mizere or an official CHESSAM position.
Ndipita has seized on the dispute to promise a different approach to leadership.
He says major international nominations and policy decisions under his administration will be subjected to board deliberations and consensus.
“A decision of such magnitude that affects Malawi’s global sports standing should never be made by one individual,” Ndipita says.
Ndipita has also promised that CHESSAM will provide unconditional support to Malawian players, arbiters and administrators seeking international opportunities.
“When a Malawian rises on the world stage, Malawi wins,” he says.
The aspiring president has further placed women’s participation at the centre of his campaign, promising a dedicated women’s chess development fund, accelerated training for female arbiters and coaches, girls’ chess clubs in schools and a National Women’s Grand Prix Series.
In a further show of support for Namangale, Ndipita says he is prepared to withdraw his own presidential bid and support her if she decides to contest for the CHESSAM presidency.
“If Ms. Namangale decides to enter the race for CHESSAM President to serve a second term, I am fully prepared to step aside and deploy my entire campaign infrastructure to support her candidacy,” he says.
