Malawi Writers Union (Mawu) National Executive Committee (Nec) is expected to meet later this month to determine the date for its Annual General Meeting (AGM) with elections part of the agenda.
The writers’ body’s president Chikumbutso Ndaferankhande said Tuesday that all was set for the AGM with elections top of the bill.
He said that the current executive’s term of office ends in November this year.
Ndaferankhande, who recently won an award in South Africa, indicated that Mawu would not wait until November to elect new office bearers with all positions up for grabs.
He maintained that he will not seek re-election.
“I have done my part and there is no going back. I have served the first term of four years which is enough for me. There are equally several other members, who have potential to take over,” the Mawu leader said.
Ndaferankhande admitted that the writers body continues to reel from lack of partners to support some of its projects.
“We have tried to reach out to other partners for support but things have not gone the right direction. Our call to the corporate world and other well-wishers is that let them help support projects for the creative sector,” he said.
In his essay that won him an award in South Africa, Ndaferankhande called upon the government to fasten the process of establishing the National Arts and Heritage Council (Nahec) which he indicated is crucial in elevating the creative sector which has been sidelined for a long time.
Having failed to run a short story competition which has over the years been sponsored by First Capital Bank (FCB), Ndaferankhande said they were hoping for more opportunities.
“If we are to encourage our writers to continue writing and at the same time participate in international competitions, then we need more writing competitions on the local front. We need writing competitions to help in promoting reading and writing culture,” Ndaferankhande said.
