HARARE - Writers will meet at the Zimbabwe Film and Television School of Southern Africa (Ziftessa) in Harare this morning to elect a new Zimbabwe Writers Association (Zwa) board.
Zwa, which was formed three years ago, is currently headed by a committee that includes veteran poet and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Musaemura Zimunya who chairs the organisation, former Zimbabwe Women Writers (ZWW) director Eresina Hwede (deputy chair) and poet/journalist Tinashe Muchuri as the secretary general.
Other members of the outgoing committee are prominent motivational writer and speaker Beatrice Sithole (treasurer), historian Karukai Ratsauka (resource mobiliser), poet/journalist Dakarai Mashava (deputy secretary) and prolific writer Memory Chirere (committee member).
According to an Annual General Meeting (AGM) notice circulated by Muchuri, the Zwa secretary, only paid up members will be allowed to cast their votes at Ziftessa which is located at 57 Mazowe Street.
“Members are being reminded to update their membership fees. To ensure that all willing members get the chance to vote, the Zwa board will allow members who settle their dues on the day of the AGM to participate in the electoral process,” said Muchuri.
Muchuri added that Zwa would like to see more Zimbabwean writers participating in the selection of writers who will take charge of their affairs for the next three years.
Zwa, an umbrella organisation for all willing Zimbabwean writers’ groups formed in July 2010, holds regular meetings of Zimbabwean writers which provide platforms for Zimbabwean writers to discuss issues affecting them.
The major objective of the writers’ organisation is to encourage creative writing, reading and publishing in all forms possible, conduct workshops, and facilitate literary discussions.