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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE chairperson of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 and Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Andrew Langa, has bemoaned the absence of Malawi from the 11th edition of the African Games that kick off in Congo Brazzaville today.

Addressing a caucus meeting of the region’s Sport, Youth and Culture Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Complex in Brazzaville on Wednesday, Minister Langa said it was regrettable that Malawi was not part of the 2015 Games.

“Regrettably Malawi isn’t participating in the 2015 Games. We would have been happy if all our member countries were participating in these Games. We, however, look forward to welcoming Malawi in the 2019 Games,” said Minister Langa.

Angola will host the 2019 African Games.

Minister Langa urged the region to remain torch bearers in sports administration and execution of vibrant sports development programmes, including the hosting of the African Games.

“When compared to other regions and even the level of organisation of the 2015 African Games, we must be proud of ourselves that we are leaders, even though we can also improve in a number of areas,” he said.

He urged member states to deliberate on critical matters such as the contentious issue of ownership of the African Games. The African Union owns the Games.

“As we deliberate during this meeting, allow me to encourage you to thoroughly deliberate on critical matters and take a strong position especially regarding matters on the African Sports Ministers’ meeting agenda, key among them being the contentious ownership of the African Games.

“I wish to urge you Honourable Ministers to make the best of the difficult situation in Congo and encourage your respective teams to post outstanding performances even under adverse circumstances,” said Minister Langa.

Seven of the 10-member states were fully represented by their Sports Ministers while Mozambique was represented by its Deputy Minister.

South Africa and 2019 hosts Angola were represented by senior government officials.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of a Specialised Technical Committee of Ministers of Youth, Sport and Culture, which took place yesterday.

It sought to deliberate on the agenda for the STC-YCS meeting as well as receive a report from the AUSC Region 5 secretariat on the 2015 African Games and recommendations for the future of these Games.