Filmmaker Ezaius Mkandawire said yesterday he is ready to serve Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma) and its board chairperson following his appointment.
Mkandawire, who was a member in the previous board headed by Bishop Reverend Chimwemwe Mhango, said it was an honour for him to have an opportunity to do public duty.
“This is an institution that means a lot to many creative persons. It will be satisfying when we, as a board, are able to represent the aspirations of the many artists in the country while improving the governance aspects of the organisation,” he said.
Last month, during the launch of a project titled ‘Empowering Cultural Practitioners in Malawi for Enhanced Freedom of Expression’— spearheaded by Cosoma and supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy— Mkandawire called upon the government to support the creative sector.
The project launch was presided over by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Patricia Wiskes,
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He advocated for proper policies for the industry to flourish, saying many associations were operating without adequate funding.
Mkandawire’s vice is Edgar Kachere, who is a lawyer and is also a well-known member of the Edgar ndi Davis Band. Kachere was part of the previous board.
Other members of the board are gospel musicians Wendy Harawa and Deborah Ntopa, Bishop Chimwemwe Chafumuka and visual artist Evelyn Chisambiro.
Ex-official members of the board are Secretary for Youth, Sports and Culture, Secretary for Justice and Comptroller of Statutory Corporations. Wendy who was also in the previous board alongside Ntopa, wrote on her Facebook page yesterday that she was pleased to be appointed a board member of Cosoma.
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President Peter Mutharika made the appointments.
She said she, as board member, was geared to contribute to the shaping of the organisation’s strategy and ensuring effective governance.
“My experience and expertise will contribute towards achieving this and ensuring growth of the creative industry and all creatives as a whole,” Wendy said.
Chisambiro, who is a new face and owner of Kaliso Art Gallery, said she was looking forward to elevating Cosoma and the creative sector.
Cosoma spokesperson Catherine Mitungwi Chiumia warmly welcomed the new board yesterday, saying they were excited to work with them.
“We would like to extend our congratulations to each of them on their appointment. We are eager and excited to work with them,” Mitungwi Chiumia said.
