The newly elected executive committee of the Poetry Association of Malawi (PAM) has urged poets in the country to embrace technology in order to stay relevant and connect with their audience.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday after the election, the association’s re-elected President Robert Chiwamba said they will work hard on promoting usage of technology to take the country’s poetry industry to the next level.
PAM went to polls on Saturday where Chiwamba was re-elected as president, Daniel Zabuloni Dama as his vice, Arthur Muongola as General Secretary, Kenneth Khondiwa as Director of Publicity, Chikumbutso Kaliyati as vice General Secretary, Charles Membe Treasurer General, Raphael Sitima as Director of Fundraising and Micah Kanyenda as Director of Women Affairs.
“Our strategic vision for the next three years is to continue embracing technology and supporting poets to utilise as many online platforms as possible. We want to empower them to utilize international platforms such as Spotify as well as encourage them to hold online performances.
This vision is in line with the current technological trends where a lot of people and entertainment activities are easily accessed on digital platforms,” said Chiwamba, adding that it was high time Malawian poets start monetising their art on digital platforms.
He expressed gratitude for being re-elected as PAM president, saying this has given him an opportunity to complete mission they began three years ago.
Asked about the milestones his team has attained for the past three years, Chiwamba explained: ‘The past term has been a mixed bag. The key challenge we faced was lack of funds. This is the status quo with many arts associations in Malawi. Associations rely on membership fees to operate, but the funds are not adequate to implement most of the programmes.
But we are optimistic that this term things will turn around as we plan to engage an extra gear in engaging the corporate world as well as increasing our membership,” said Chiwamba.
On the other hand, Chiwamba cited the amendment of the association’s Constitution as a milestone.
“Among the highlights of the of PAM’s Constitution review are amended sections which allow the Annual General Meetings to happen online, reduced tenure of office bearers from five to three years and establishment of three new directorates of PAM namely, the women, fundraising and publicity. We hope these directorates will bring value to the association,” said Chiwamba.
PAM also secured a plot at Airwing in Lilongwe where they are planning to build an office.
Currently, many arts associations are struggling secure permanent offices in Malawi.
This is happening at a time renovations of the Blantyre Cultural Centre (BCC) are happening at a snail’s pace.
On his part, the new director of publicity Khondiwa described public relations (PR) as one of the strategic pillars of growth for the association.
“Public Relations play a vital role in promoting business relations which bring about mutual benefits like investments. My task will be fulfilling this.
Just to mention but a few, last term we managed to secure office equipment such as a laptop, printer, office chairs and Mifi gadget. We also won the K6.9 million Copyright Fund Grant and contributed to advocacy for the enactment of of the National Arts and Heritage Council Act.
And this term we are looking forward to do do even bigger,’ said Khondiwa.
