Non-fiction writers to launch next month
One year after they came together, local writers intend to launch their national body, the Malawi Union of Academic and Non-fiction Authors (Muana), next month.
Muana is the third body of writers after the Malawi Writers Union (Mawu) and the Poetry Association of Malawi (Pam).
But Muana, with support from the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association, was established to promote non-fiction and academic research and publication after noticing that Mawu and Pam were mainly promoting fiction writing.
Speaking with The Nation, Muana general secretary Ndongolera Mwangupili, who is also senior education methods advisor in the Northern Region, said the launch will make the union visible to all writers and academicians.
“We have set up a team of three to work on the logistics of organising the launch. We are yet to come up with the venue. But most probably it should be in Lilongwe. We will invite various dignitaries to witness the launch. We want the union to be visible to the whole profession of writers,” he said.
Mwangupili said the Norwegian Non-fiction Writers and Translators Association has pledged to fund them with $30 000 (about K12.3 million). He said $14 000 (about K5.7 million) has already been disbursed to support their activities for six months, with the remainder to be disbursed later.
Muana executive members met last weekend in Liwonde to strategise on how to use these funds.
They agreed to register the union, procure office furniture and equipment and support their activities during the launch.
Muana is headed by Max Iphani, who is the book editor at the Malawi Institute of Education. His vice is Samson Macjessie-Mbewe, a lecturer at Chancellor College.
Lecturer at Mzuzu University Victor Mgomezulu is the treasurer whereas Denis Khasu from Chanco is the vice secretary.
Committee members are Prisca Kachigunda Kalonde who manages Sunrise Publications, Jane Somanje who is senior education methods advisor in the Southern Region Education Division and John Paul Yohane from Claim Mabuku Publishing Company.
