Sinetre challenges Mhango for music body presidency
It will be a two man’s race come August 15 at Kamuzu Institute for Sports when Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM) go to the polls to elect new executive members to head the musicians body for the next two years.
Balaka-based veteran musician Charles Sinetre is challenging incumbent president Reverend Chimwemwe Mhango who is seeking a second term.
Interestingly, both contenders share the common goal of “uplifting the lives of Malawian musicians”.
“I want to contribute to the music industry by empowering musicians in the country through stakeholders that continue to work with the body. We have not been vibrant as our house was not in order. This resulted in some stakeholders not willing to work with us. This also saw us fighting singular battles for example on piracy because we were not united.
“The other major thing I seek to work on if I assume office is change welfare of musicians. It has not been good hence having a number of musicians moving with bowls begging for alms from government and companies when for example they fall sick. This is not supposed to be the case in normal circumstances,” said Sinetre in an interview.
He boasted that he planned for strategies that will result in the union having enough resources to cater for every member.
Mhango, on the other hand, said his tenure has largely been successful hence his bid for reelection.
President for the past two years, Mhango claimed he has cultivated the spirit of transparency and tolerance, equal distribution of resources and proper accountability in all MUM chapters so much so that they now have records with audited books.
“I also spearheaded the formation of a strong women’s desk which has been part of the body at every step. In my tenure, MUM has also grown from an association to a union, we now have a new chapter in the Eastern Region, we have new branches in the Shire Valley and we had successful awards for the first time.
“Again, we have managed to keep a good working relationship with international organisations, played a role in the institution of a Cosoma board which had been absent for seven years,” he asserted.
While hinting on how he has changed the face of musicians in Malawi, Mhango says he has other plans that aim at further promoting the industry if he is reelected.
“Now that we are linked to so many international organisations we want to see many artists perform at festivals outside Malawi. I will also continue advocating for the amendment of piracy law in parliament. We will lobby more our legislators to come up with stiff punishments for those involved in,” he said.
Other positions in the MUM executive are also seemingly going to be equally hotly contested during the polls.
Martha Pingasa alias Favoured Martha, Bertha Nkhoma, Patrick Simakweli are contesting for the position of vice president against incumbent Lazi Nkhata.
Incumbent secretary Thomas Lupeska is facing Diwa Khwiliro and Chris Phiri for the position while the incumbent treasurer Young Chilaga is facing competition from Catherine Kawawa, Maganizo Chirwa and Sally Nyundo.
Current women’s desk president Martha Mituka is seeking reelection in a contest with Elizabeth Kachali Kaunda.
