Jappie Mhango has been elected Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa Zone VI President after defeating Barry Eugene Hendricks from South Africa during an Elective General Assembly which was held on 22nd February, 2025 at Sunbird Livingstonia Beach in Salima, Malawi.
Mhango had seven votes against Hendrick’s four.
In a post-election interview, Mhango said he wants to take the institution to greater heights.
” We want to continue from where the immediate-past executive has left off. The have done a good job and we want to continue and take the zone vi to another level,” he said.
Ministry of Youth and Sports Principal Secretary Isaac Katopola, who was the Guest of honour,urged the new committee to embrace transparency among others.
He said: “It is also very important to note that the responsibility does not lie solely with the leaders elected today, but it is a collective responsibility that requires the support from all stakeholders.
“I wish to urge the new leadership to embrace transparency, accountability and service to the sport ecosystem. This assembly represents more than just a democratic process of electing new leaders. It is a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to the values of good governance, integrity and excellence in sports administration”.
He added that strong leadership is the foundation upon which successful sport institutions are built.
ANOCA Zone VI, which comprises of Southern African Nations, plays a crucial role in promoting and coordinating Olympic activities in the region. The election results signal a new era of leadership aimed at fostering sports development, athlete welfare and regional cooperation in the Olympic Movement.
Outgoing ANOCA Zone Vi President Alfred Foloko has since congratulated the new executive ushered in stating “As i conclude my tenure as president of ANOCA Zone Vi, I reflect with immense pride on the strides we have made together since my election in 2021. Our zone has emerged as a leading force within the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), setting a benchmark in governance, athlete development, and the promotion of Olympism. As I step away from this role to pursue my aspiration of serving as ANOCA Vice President at the continental level, I humbly ask for your continued support. Our journey does not end here; rather, it evolves into new opportunities to further strengthen the Olympic movement across Africa”.
ANOCA Zone Vi member states include; Malawi, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Below is the newly elected ANOCA Zone Vi Committee; President: Jappie Mhango (Malawi) Vice President: Gonye Thaban (Zimbabwe) Secretary General: Maxwell Jele (Eswatini) Treasurer: Morake Raleaka (Lesotho) Board members: Hazel Kennedy (Zambia), Diana Ahrens (Namibia) Botsang Tsenyego (Botswana)
