Malawi Writers Union (Mawu) new executive will meet on Friday to, among others, endorse a new board.
Mawu President Sambalikagwa Mvona confirmed yesterday of the meeting to be held in Liwonde.
The writer’s body last Saturday held its annual general meeting (AGM) where top on the agenda were the elections which saw Mvona retaining the presidency outsmarting the only contender, activist Billy Mayaya.
Before the elections, Mvona revealed during his speech that the previous board has not been vibrant, hence proposing new names.
The names were presented to the gathering but a hot debate ensued over them after some quarters felt they were imposed on them.
After deliberations, the names were later accepted with some members suggesting that other names be added and later endorsed by the new executive.
“The meeting will endorse the new board and apart from the names we presented during the AGM, we have also added Marvin Hanke,” said Mvona.
The names that were presented during the AGM include Dr Williams Banda, who was previously acting, Jimmy Korreira Mpatsa, Sam Mpasu, Father Gamba, former First Lady Callista Mutharika, Nyakwawa Usiwausiwa and Emmanuel Chinunda with advisors DD Phiri and Emmie Chanika.
Some of the members, who were in the previous board, are former Vice President Justin Malewezi.
The new executive is also expected to endorse the new membership fee for members which the gathering during the AGM agreed that it should be increased.
The increase is one of the ways aimed at growing Mawu’s slim wallet.
The new fees which Mvona spelled out and the AGM gave a go ahead will see budding writers paying a membership fee of K5,000 from K3,000 per year with veteran writers paying K20,000 per year which members observed was on the higher side.
The membership fee for affiliates was put at K15,000 per year.
Apart from Mvona, who has been criticised for holding on to the presidency for a long time, the other members of the executive are Martin Matandika (Budding writers Chair), Apostle Raphael Chikwakwa (Religious Desk Chair), Nancy Phiri (Women’s Desk Chair), Pius Nyondo (Publicity Secretary), Grace Gondwe (General Secretary), Christopher Chitukula (Vice President) and Albert Kalimbakatha (Treasurer General).
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