Landowners pick chairman

 NATIONAL Capital District  Governor Powes Parkop’s former executive officer Thomas Nen is the  chairman of newly-created BabuafLandowners’ Association.
Babuaf is one of three major landowner groups that own land in Wafi, where a second major gold mine is planned  by Morobe Mining Joint Venture (MMJV).
Landowners from the two major Babuaf clans of Wafes and Lerom gathered at Babul, near the lower Watut River, on Wednesday and voted.
Nen was unopposed after being nominated by James Saking of the Lerom clan. About 108 people from the four major villages of Kapongo, Wonkings, Wori and Mazim voted.
The election was conducted by Morobe provincial government officials and witnessed by Wampar local level government manager Ecky Yaku and John Maran from MMJV .
Anung Yawasing is deputy chairman,  Jerry Mugu secretary and Jack Raban treasurer.
Nen, 52, said his immediate task was to deal with the Lands Title Commission to identify the land boundaries of the Babuaf people.