The newly constituted Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) board, led by chairperson Bishop Reverend Chimwemwe Mhango, on Friday met with Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Alfred Gangata.
Mhango described the meeting as “productive”.
He said they discussed issues such as piracy, which the Cosoma board said was eating into the income of creators.
“Online and offline infringement continues, requiring ongoing enforcement resources and legal support,” Mhango said. Board members also lamented noncompliance of some players, who dillydally on paying licence fees.
They also decried outdated tariff structures and limited financial resources for enforcement of regulations.
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Mhango and others also shared with the minister their plans to establish a school for the arts to nurture talent and strengthen professional capacity for creators.
During the meeting, Cosoma board members called upon the minister to help in fast tracking the approval of copyright tariffs and facilitating the provision of adequate budgetary support for the school for the arts project.
Cosoma board members also spoke highly about the recognition and prioritisation of the creative sector in national development strategies.
“We have inadequate infrastructures for performances. We also asked for the quick rehabilitation of Blantyre Cultural Centre,” Mhango said.
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Gangata, who has swapped ministries with Patricia Wiskes, was not readily available for his comment Monday.
His predecessor Wiskes also had meetings with players in the creative sector.
