Rudo, Rev. Mhango, Joseph Tembo elected Cosoma board members

Tom Sangala September 3, 2015

392 1 minute read

REVEREND Chimwemwe Mhango, musician and producer Joseph Tembo and Rudo Mkukupha Chakwera were yesterday elected board members pending approval from the government during the Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) Annual General Meeting held at Grace Bandawe in Blantyre.

During the elections, several names were presented but after sieving five names stood out with Mhango, Kendall Kamwendo, Wycliffe Chimwendo, Mkukupha and Tembo battling it out for the three positions.

Kamwendo of the Symon and Kendall fame was the only one who was not present during the elections which saw the five names being asked to present their manifestos to their fellow artists.

With Kamwendo absent, the four went on to present their short manifestos speaking on what they will do once elected into the board.

They were given three minutes to present their manifestos and then thereafter they were asked questions based on what they had presented.

But before the voting process started, Chimwendo pulled out saying something inside him told him to withdraw leaving the race to four people to battle for the three positions.

At the end of the elections, Tembo, who is a renowned producer and former Member of Parliament, came out top followed by Mhango and Rudo with Kamwendo coming out last.

So the top three automatically grabbed the three positions into the board and according to Cosoma’s Executive Director Dora Makwinja, their names will be sent to the government for approval.

Mhango is back into the fold as he was part of the outgoing board, whose twoyear term is up.

The other members, who were part of the outgoing board, include Mafumu Matiki, Andrew Farai and Apostle Enesia Chitheka Lewis.

The singer and guitarist, who was the outgoing board chairperson hailed the artists for electing them and promised to do more to uplift Cosoma so that the creative industry benefits.

Rudo, who studied music at University of Malawi – Chancellor College said the elections were free and fair adding that she was happy to be part of those elected into the board.

“I am happy to be part of the board of course pending approval from the government. All I can say there is alot that needs to be done for the artists to start benefiting from their sweat. There are policies out there that need to be pushed and so we will try and all I can say is as artists we need to unite,” she said.