Highlights from the 2024 Malawi AGM

19 September 2024

DEASA Conference 2025:

• The Secretariat touched base with Ms. Maduna to sensitise her that Eswatini was to host the 2025 conference, a formal letter to follows.

Constitution and Strategic Plan:

• I also wish to share with you that the constitution and the strategic plan were accepted by the AGM, which also commended the ExCo for the efforts placed in reviewing the documents. We will hopefully be able to share the final versions next week, which will need to be submitted for language editing.
   
• Highlights from the constitution are that Article 20 (underneath) was amended as indicated in coloured text. As such, Clause 20.3.1 and 20.3.2 were immediately enacted.
   
• Following this, Dr. Valeta was nominated for Chairpersonship and there was no other contender. He was thus endorsed by the AGM as the new DEASA Chair while Namibia was elected Vice Chair.

• Members were further encouraged to comply with clause 20.1 and ensure that country reps serve a maximum of 4 years. Otherwise, the Secretariat is now in the process of writing appointment letters to the incoming Chair and VC, as well as the outgoing Chair. 

• Let me take this opportunity to thank Prof. Ngubane for her very able leadership that she rendered to us. She has handheld us through our term as new members of the Secretariat with great diligence and we will forever remain grateful to her unwavering support.

Thanks to you all for making both the ExCo meeting, the conference and AGM such a great success.

Special thanks to the Chair and his team for such a well organised conference.

Article 20: Succession Procedure/Plan

20.1 The Executive Committee members shall serve a maximum term of two (2) years which may be renewed only once.

20.2 Countries must come to and present their country rep who would then form part of the ExCo.

20.3 Chairpersonship and Vice Chairpersonship will serve for only 1 two-year term.

20.3.1 The Chairperson shall be voted in by a simple majority, through a secret vote, or openly where there is only one nomination.

20 .3.2 The Vice Chair shall rotate among member countries. The rotation shall follow a schedule in alphabetical order, starting with the current Vice Chair. If the vice