ZAM Vibrancy is Lost – Njoya

Njoya T
OUTGOING Zambia Association of Musicians spokesperson, Njoya Tembo says the upcoming ZAM elections organised by NAC and SACCORD are the most expensive annual general meeting ever in the arts.
Tembo feels the elections to be held in Chisamba are a luxury considering the budget allocated.
“Since the takeover in January this year, ZAM has been mute and invisible, something not good for a growing organisation which launched a strategic plan a week before its AGM. Today, ZAM’s office has been closed due to non-payment. In short, the vibrancy and momentum has been lost which therefore will demand more effort to the incoming executive,” he said in an interview.
Tembo noted that the euphoria that goes with every ZAM election is not present because publicity which was budgeted for was not equal to the task.
He claimed that musicians were busy people, hence to have their attention required the use of medium such as television, radio and email which NAC has not utilised so far.
Tembo said NAC needed to exercise mature leadership if the sustenance of ZAM was to be attained.
“We have found ourselves in this dilemma with nothing illegal in our hands. What if there was mismanagement, NAC would have crucified us!
This is regrettable in this year of jubilee, 50 years after independence,” he said.
Tembo explained that the launch of the ZAM strategic plan early this year was a milestone which would have helped the association partner with progressive institutions for the benefit of the local music industry.
Last week, the National Arts Council announced May 27 as the date for the ZAM executive elections.
Acting director, Adrian Chipindi in an interview explained that the council decided to hold the AGM in Chisamba because it was a central and neutral venue.
The caretaker committee appealed to all ZAM members and stakeholders to support the process so that the issues in the musicians’ body are resolved.
ZAM failed to usher in a new executive during the annual meeting in January due to, among other reasons, misunderstandings in its current constitution.”

Posted by Editor on May 17, 2014. Filed under LIFE & STYLE, STYLE. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.