By Vinjeru Ngwira
Jonas Chokotho has been elected Chairperson of the Northern Region Volleyball League (NRVL) following a keenly contested elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu.
Chokotho secured a convincing 24 votes against his challenger, Khwima Chiumia, who managed four votes in the chairpersonship race. Catherine Nyamwela was elected Vice-Chairperson unopposed.
In other positions, Joseph Mphande emerged victorious in the General Secretary race after polling 17 votes against Philip Kaundeni’s 11. Meanwhile, James Chinula was elected Treasurer General unopposed.
The elective AGM also saw Aubrey Mpeyama, Cicila Tembo and Allen Tigone Munthali elected as committee members, completing the composition of the new league leadership.
Speaking after the electoral process, Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Elections Committee, Mercy Shaba, described the exercise as a success, expressing satisfaction with the impressive turnout of delegates. She noted that the elections had previously been scheduled on two occasions, making their successful conclusion particularly encouraging.
In his acceptance remarks, newly elected Chairperson Chokotho expressed excitement at being entrusted with the leadership mandate, pledging his commitment to addressing the challenges that have hindered the development of volleyball in the Northern Region.
Chokotho identified governance shortcomings as one of the longstanding obstacles to the league’s progress, promising to prioritise the development of clear rules and regulations, alongside the formulation of a comprehensive constitution to provide an institutional framework for the effective administration and management of the league.
He further outlined his ambition to expand volleyball’s footprint beyond Mzuzu, arguing that the sport’s identity in the Northern Region should not be confined to the city alone. He pledged to pursue initiatives that would strengthen the game across all districts, ensuring that volleyball receives recognition and development throughout the entire region.