Arterial Malawi inauguration ‘timely’

The Arterial Network Malawi chapter becomes the 28th to be established across the continent. The event was held at the Public Affairs auditorium in Lilongwe attracting a cross-section of patronage from musicians, film makers, writers, dramatists, visual artists, designers and poets amongst the very many.
Flying under the theme ‘Advocacy for the Vibrant Development of our Creative Industries’ the launch tackled leadership in the creative sector, history of the Arterial Network and its objectives. An over view of the organization was delivered in a ten minute presentation by the Deputy Secretary General for the Arterial Network Secretariat, Carol Karemera.
According to Karemera, members of the network will largely benefit from this network through the advocacy element which is integral to creating conducive policies for the industry, cultural exchange programs, capacity building publications and workshop for varying disciplines of the arts but also recognition of being amongst the cream of African artistes.
Arterial Network compiles and distributes monthly newsletters in English and French sharing news relevant to Africa’s creative sector and is in the pipeline of establishing another publication in Portuguese, it has spawned arts journalists and festival networks, it has previously held 10-day “winter schools” training activists from member countries in building sustainable artists’ networks, all of which the local chapters are bound to benefit from.
During the launch, Serman Chavula, Zilanie Gondwe Nyundo, Thom Chibambo, Q. Malewezi, Sally Nyundo, Susan Banda, Joyce Mhango and Waliko Makhala were elected into the national steering committee to oversee the activities of the newly launched chapter for the coming period.
The launch was graced by the Deputy Director of Culture Bernard Kwilimbe, who in his keynote speech articulated on the status and progress of Malawi’s cultural policy which is yet to be adopted by the Malawi government. Other presenters during the launch were Ben Canavan the Public Affairs Officer for the American Embassy; Lizzie Chikoti a statistician from National Statistics Office who gave a report on the survey conducted regarding Malawi creative economy and Chris Magomero from UNESCO National Commission.
Arterial Network is a continental network of artists, cultural activists, arts NGOs, and others committed to developing African music, dance, theatre, literature and visual arts as a means to contribute to democracy, human rights and development in Africa.
The committee met in camera later in the day to select its leadership who are now led by Zilanie Gondwe Nyundo as chairperson, Thom Chibambo as vice chairperson, Serman Chavula is the treasurer and Susan Kamkosi Banda is secretary.
Chavula who is a previous director of the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) and is currently country representative for South and Eastern Africa Copyright Network (Seaconet) hailed the establishment of the national chapter as “timely and propitious for the arts and culture sector to have a voice to champion its concerns. Always we are told that unless you cry out loud, no one, not the leaders nor society will know that you exist or that you are willing to make positive contributions to society.”
The Arterial inauguration attracted a patronage of close to seventy and is heralded as a timely launch by creative community leaders and organizations.

“CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS NOT SELL OUTS”

In yet another sheer caricature of events, representatives from a pool of Civil society organizations (CSOs) and faith based organizations on Thursday organized a media briefing voicing out concerns regarding political, social-economic issues rocking the nation. This comes against the background of the petition delivered on the 20th July in which the CSOs allegedly petitioned the President on a number of issues with governance and human rights issues amongst them.
The CSOs expressed a litany of concerns that need to e addressed and also those culminating from 20th July mass demonstrations and their aftermath, imminent elements of executive arrogance such as the poor handling of Local government elections, passing of unpopular bills (Flag change, Pension, Injunctions, Police act) by the majority of DPP MPs that are just bent on appeasing their executive masters but also the stooping on delivery of public service.
Taking turns in the briefing, National Coordinator for the Catholic Commission for Justice & Peace (CCJP) Chris Chisoni, articulated on the need for dialogue, pointing out that violence and intimidation is not key in solving these issues citing incidents where Civil rights activists are given death threats but also singling out of activists as perpetrators of violence in political podiums. He further stressed that the CSOs advocating for good governance and human rights should not be thought of as splinter groups having personal vendettas against the government, rather a positive section of masses with the aim of safeguarding the long fought freedom and democracy which is under threat, arguing that dialogue is essential and that leaders must pursue justice by reasoning together in a sober manner.
Adding her voice to the briefing Martha Kwataine fro MEHN expressed worry with statements uttered by ‘some leaders’ as they are thought to be mere lip service ridicule, “one day they talk about dialogue, the next the tell us to go to hell”, she was quoted.
Most of the speakers also treaded on the just ended mass demonstrations and their aftermath, expressing worry with how the Police handled and conducted themselves during the demonstrations with regard to events culminating from the chaos and also their double standard who never reacted to the DPP youth militias that were brandishing machetes and pangas in the streets inducing fear amongst the citizenry on the eve of demonstrations and their swift reaction to the demonstrators on the day of demonstrations.

Commenting on the rationale of the briefing, Executive Director for the Civil Society Coalition for Quality Basic Education Benedicto Kondowe, appealed to government to resort to dialogue but also preach messages of hope and sincerity not teasing and ridiculing statements from political podiums that ignite anger amongst Malawians.
In conclusion, Chisoni expressed that the CSO leaders are not sell-outs and that more and more dialogue is key to sustainable development regarding the socio-economic and political stalemates.
Organizations represented at the briefing included MEHN, CCJP, Centre for Social Concern, CSCQBE and it was held at the Cresta Hotel.

After The Bullet

After the bullet
After the last cry
Doldrums of commotion
Impregnated cloud of salt
Rising smoke of the cremated
Emotional rampage of anger
Black shot carnage of fright
Dark times, dull lies
Repeated rhetoric of conscious

After the bullet it dawned
A morning on the wings of stars
Of burial and rebellion
Smoking out caged nkwezules
Flashing fiery machetes of pride
Fear and more tears
Ricocheting blank dark thoughts
More blasts and clashes
For we triumphed with will and zeal