Muana gets new board
Malawi Union of Academic and Non- Fiction Authors (Muana) has a new board which was elected last Saturday at Dedza Mountain View Lodge.
The new board of trustees is being headed by Mathews Mtumbuka while Muana’s former president Max Iphani is the vice chairperson.
Mtumbuka has succeeded Pascal Kishindo, who served his two terms of office as chairperson.
The other members of the board are Gertrude Kabwazi, who is Yamba Malawi Country Director, Dorothy Ngoma, who is a well-known leader and promoter of public health and professional in nursing/ midwifery matters and Archangello Mtipe Yambeni, an educator and a leader in promoting distance education services at Domasi College of Education.
Muana President Ron Muphuwa, said yesterday they were happy to have a new board in place and that the National Executive Committee (Nec) was ready to work with the board to propel the association.
Muphuwa said among other issues which the board resolved and asked Nec to do together with the general membership include identifying an intern to coordinate development of proposals and implementation of the income generating programmes in conjunction with the secretariat and that this task should be done before June 30 2020.
“They also asked Nec and general membership to open a library/bookshop within the secretariat’s office or any other place convenient for the purpose,” he said.
Muphuwa also said that Muana should develop materials for use at the pre-school (kindargaten) levels for sale.
“We also need to recruit more members, especially women into the union. The current membership stands at 143. The target for 2020 is to hit 200 by December. As Muana, we are also looking at establishing chapters and clubs in institutions of higher learning,” he said.
He also said that the board resolved that Nec should write Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) for recognition just like other arts associations in the country.
“There are a number of things we want to do to make sure that we remain relevant as far as propelling reading culture in the country is concerned. We want to be visible and this calls taking the necessary marketing strategies including embracing online,” Muphuwa said.
He also said that Muana would be aiming at establishing Annual Authors Award.
“I therefore appeal chairpersons of sub-committees to work with the secretary general to ensure that we deliver on these programmes,” Muphuwa said.
With several arts associations in the country yet to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM), Muana is one of the few that have managed to hold its AGM as well as scrutinizing some of its programmes.
