By Sam Phiri –

THE Zambia Association for Musicians (ZAM) caretaker committee says it is now ready for the long awaited elections.
The committee comprising Boniface Cheembe, Elizabeth Mwanza, Bright Banda, Maliya Sililo and James Ngoma says after an extensive consultative process, it has developed a road-map that will ensure that elections are held in a transparent and clearly structured manner.
The roadmap, which commenced on Friday 25, April 2014 with the invitation for nomination, will culminate in the elections to be held
on May 27, 2014 in Chisamba.
“Members of ZAM are therefore encouraged to nominate candidates by picking up the nomination forms from the National Arts Council (NAC) Secretariat at Acacia House Cairo Road or any of the offices for the Provincial Cultural Officer in all Provincial headquarters,” part of the statement reads.
The committee has emphasised that only fully paid-up members of ZAM are eligible to take part in he elections and contest for a position.
On representation, the committee says only five delegates from each province will be allowed to attend the convention accompanied by the outgoing ZAM officials and NAC.
The said delegates will add to the consolidation of the roadmap by voting for a particular criterion, they would want the elections to be conducted.
The caretaker committee says resources for the elections in Chisamba have been sourced from ZAM partners SHARe II and the National Arts Council of Zambia though they still have an appeal: “The committee wishes to make an appeal to all ZAM members and stakeholders to support this process so that the issues in ZAM are resolved and the association continues its role in developing the country through job creation, income generation and positive social impact,”
Looking at the confusion that characterised the aborted ZAM election some months ago, one would only wish that the said roadmap will yieldfruit.