The Malawi Poetry Association (PAM) on Saturday approved five new board members who will play an advisory role in helping the association achieve its goals.
Members include renowned poet Q Malewezi, poet Chisomo Mdala, better known as Nyamalikiti Nthiwatiwa, associate professor and lecturer at Chancellor College Asante Mtenje, and writer Grace Chalira.
The association also appointed radio cartoonist Deus Sandram of the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ), known as Bwande, as the new chairman of the board.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Crown Lodge in Lilongwe, association president Robert Chiwamba said the executive committee considered several factors when proposing the board.
Chiwamba cited experience, availability and productivity.
“The new board has members with diverse backgrounds and they will go a long way in shaping the future of poets who would like their poems to be recorded and published, among other things. The board has members who will help the association in terms of networking and those who are passionate about seeing the industry move forward, ”he said.
In his acceptance speech, Sandram said he was excited about the position and committed to serving the association with passion.
He said that being also a poet, he would not sleep at work, but ensure that the association receives the necessary support from the business world, saying that poetry has the potential to contribute positively to the development of the country as well.
However, he also advised established and up-and-coming poets to come up with poems with substance and be able to learn from other experienced poets like Okomaatani Malunga and Felix Njonjonjo, among others.
During the AGM, the association made some changes to the constitution and revealed some partners, including Innobuild Private Company Limited, Crown Lodge and Reunion Insurance Company.
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