Poetry Association of Malawi (PAM) sets new record

MALAWI: The Poetry Association of Malawi (PAM) Annual General Meeting (AGM) has ended on a high note after an intensive constitutional review with immediate effect after the release of the amended and ratified constitutional provisions.

Counsel Gimeon Nyondo from the Constitutional Review Committee and a lawyer by profession led the group of poets in reviewing the PAM Constitution yesterday at Crown Lodge in Lilongwe.

Among the modified and amended articles include elected members to have a 3-year term (3) in office from the day of their election, and maybe in the National Executive Committee a maximum of two terms; Oath of Office to be presided over by the commissioner of oath and a member to be eligible to vote should be a paid-up member for two years before elections just to mention but a few.

Earlier, delegates in conjunction with the national executive revised the registration membership fee from K2,500 to K5,000 for every member and K3,000 for every student.

Before the constitutional review meeting, poets confirmed the new board members consisted of five members chaired by a radio personality Deusi Sandram popularly known as ' Wobwande ' who assured poets in the country of his commitment to the position.

Said Sandram, “I've accepted the post, and you poets should expect better things from me during my tenure of office as I will work hand in hand with the National Executive Committee and we will put PAM on the map so that people outside there will realize that it is not the way it was.”

On his part, PAM President Mr.Robert Chiwamba pledged to revamp the organization and provide support but urged the members to cooperate for the betterment of PAM.

Chiwamba said, “I will help PAM to move forward, we will be there for you as an executive, and we need to work together for the betterment of the organization.”

In attendance were representatives for the Copyright Society of Malawi Mr.Shadrick Kumtengo and the Operations Officer For Innobuild Private Limited Company Chancy Khembo, which is a partner for PAM, and both committed support to the association.

This is the first Annual General Meeting since the grouping ushered in new leaders some months ago on 11th September 2021.

Poetry Association of Malawi (PAM) was founded in 1997 with a group of poets gathered at Kamuzu Upper Stadium in Blantrey and was registered on 4th September 1998 by the Registrar General under the Trustees Incorporation Act of 1962.