Creatives have petitioned President Lazarus Chakwera, asking him to consider allocating resources that will culminate in the operationalisation of the National Arts and Heritage Council (Nahec).
They want the funds to be incorporated in the 2025-26 national budget.
The petition—put together by players such as the Nahec Taskforce, Culture Foundation and Women of Malawi Heritage and Arts Centre—was delivered to the Office of the President and Cabinet in Lilongwe on Tuesday.
The petition follows Chakwera’s assenting to the National Arts and Heritage Act last year.
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However, in the 2025-26 national budget statement that was presented to Parliament by Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda, there was nothing as regards funding for Nahec.
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This is despite that creative sector players requested for K3.78 billion for operations.
In the petition, the creatives say the cultural and creative industries are among the fastest growing economic sectors worldwide.
They quote the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which indicates that trade in creative goods and services totalled $624 billion in 2011, with an annual growth rate pegged at 8.8 percent.
The creatives also say, in the petition, that funding Nahec aligns with national and global development agendas such as Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) number eight, which emphasises the role of tourism and cultural industries in job creation and supporting livelihoods.
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It also speaks highly of the Malawi 2063 vision pillar three on urbanisation, which envisions urban development that includes creative and cultural hubs.
The petition has also spelled out the impact of Nahec on national development and includes increased arts and heritage events, enhanced market structures, capacity building and economic growth.
“Your Excellency, in light of the above, we respectfully seek your intervention in ensuring that the Ministry of Finance allocates the necessary funds in the 2025-26 national budget to operationalise Nahec and ensure its sustainability,” the petition reads.
Ezaius Mkandawire of Culture Foundation said the petition to the President was all about putting across their needs.
“The industry is suffering and yet it has lots of potential to contribute immensely to the development of the country,” Mkandawire said.
Zilanie Gondwe from Women of Malawi Heritage and Arts Centre confirmed that she was part of the lobby group.
“We need delivery of the Nahec budget,” she said.
Nahec Taskforce Chairperson Maxwell Chiphinga, popularly known as Max DC, said, apart from the petition, they would march on March 21 2025 to deliver another petition to the Minister of Finance.
“The march will begin from City Centre to Capital Hall. We are expecting creatives and cultural players to be part of this march because it is important for the creative sector,” he said.
Special Adviser to the President on Creative Industries, Q Malewezi, was unaware of the petition yesterday but indicated that the President is committed to having Nahec operationalised as soon as possible.
Director of Arts in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture Humphrey Mpondaminga said recently that the funding issue was one of the important matters presented when ministry officials met with members of the Social and Community Affairs and the Local Authorities and Rural Development Cluster.
