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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
MALAWI’S Minister of Youth and Sport Ulemu Msungama is the new chairperson of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Council of Ministers, taking over from Likeleli Tampane of Lesotho.

Msungama’s elevation was in accordance with Article 31.6 of the Region 5 constitution, which states that the chairpersonship of the council must rotate with the hosting timetable of the ordinary meetings, unless decided otherwise by the majority of ministers eligible to vote.

By virtue of being the Council of Ministers chairperson, Minister Msungama doubles up as chairperson of the Troika of Ministers.

“Ministers responsible for sport in Mozambique and Lesotho will join Msungama to serve in the Troika for the next 24 months. Carlos Gilberto Mendes, Secretary of State for Sport in Mozambique becomes the new Troika and Council of Ministers vice chairperson, as Mozambique will be the next Region 5 Games host after Malawi.

Tampane of Lesotho becomes the third member of the Region 5 Troika of Ministers by being Minister responsible for sport in the country that hosted the previous Region 5 Games before Malawi,” said Ausc Region 5 chief executive officer Stanley Mutoya in a statement.

The Region 5 Council of Ministers is the supreme policy making organ of the organisation.

Among its numerous duties is to formulate policies and regulations on the administration, organisation and promotion of sport in Region 5 as recommended by the executive committee.

It is also charged with the responsibility of ratifying the draft annual budgets and annual audited accounts submitted to it by the executive committee.

It is also responsible for disciplining members of the executive committee and officials of confederations for any breach of the Region 5 constitution, its rules, regulations and by-laws or for misconduct likely to bring the region into disrepute.

“It is also one of the duties and functions of the Region 5 Council of Ministers to confer honours and awards on any Member State, team or individual for meritorious service rendered to AUSC Region 5 and for exceptional achievements in national, regional or international competitions. Minister.

Msungama has the unenviable task of leading Region 5 to excel under a very punishing operating environment due to Covid-19 induced restrictions. Unlike previous Region 5 Youth Games host countries, Malawi has only one year to prepare for the hosting of the Games scheduled for 2 to 11 December 2022.

This follows the decision of the Region 5 Council of Ministers to host back-to-back Games after (the) Maseru 2020 Games were deferred to 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Mutoya.

Msungama will also be responsible for ensuring the new organisational re-engineering process is implemented with minimum glitches.

The new organisational model will see the strategy, structure, skills and programmes of the region being transformed under the 3S+P model.

Under the newly proposed structure, Permanent Secretaries in the ministries responsible for sport in member countries will form an advisory board responsible for considering recommendations from the Region 5 committee of experts before tabling them for adoption by the Council of Ministers.

“The Permanent Secretaries will be part of the decision-making process of the region unlike in the past where they were not consulted or involved in the decision-making processes and structures of the region.”