Malawi government replacing censorship laws

Genre : Society news
Principal country concerned : Column : Media
Release/publication date : December 2015
Published on : 12/02/2015
Source : http://timesmediamw.com/malawi-government-replacing-censorship-laws/ 10 February 2015


Malawi government has revealed that it has embarked on replacing censorship laws that over the years have limited people's creativity in the country.



Director of Culture in the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture Elizabeth Gomani Chindebvu said this recently on behalf of Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Kondwani Nankhumwa during the launch of the Mibawa One Stop Multimedia and Events Management Centre held in Lilongwe.



The move is a welcome development to artists in the country who have struggled with censorship laws and failed to move forward with their various artistic products.



Some writers in the past years have had their books confiscated due to some of these censorship laws and as a result others have ended up not being active.



"We are replacing censorship laws that over the years have limited people's creativity, with classification laws that will help in the promotion of the artistic and creative industries in Malawi," she said.



Gomani Chindebvu added that the government is strengthening efforts aimed at uplifting the creative industry and that changing censorship laws is one of them. Chindebvu also admitted that the absence of the Cultural Policy has delayed the development of the creative industry in the country.



"We are working very hard taking all the necessary steps to make sure that the draft Cultural Policy is approved and we are at the final stage and as at now the policy is with the cabinet," she said.



The Director of Culture then hailed Mibawa One Stop Multimedia and Events Management Centre for investing heavily in such things as equipment to bring out different programmes adding that this will boost the artistic industry.



"Let me commend Mibawa One Stop Multimedia and Events Management Centre , the facilities will surely help develop the artists and youths in the country in terms of showcasing their skills. This will renew hope of artists and with such developments, we are gradually as a country taking the right direction," she said.



Chindebvu said through the different soaps they will be producing among others, Mibawa has done well as they help strengthen the film industry which is still in its infancy and that Malawians can anticipate more local programmes beaming in the local TV stations citing among others, MBC, Zodiak and Times Televisions.



Mibawa Band Chief Executive Officer John Nthakomwa says they have built a Mibawa One Stop Multimedia and Events Management Centre which is housing several products citing Mibawa Band, Mibawa Studios and Mibawa Café.



"We are developing local content and we are developing programmes like Mwachande which we are working in partnership with MBC TV, this is a programme which Malawians will love as it has actors who have never been on the TV before. Through Mwachande people will get to hear different messages," said Nthakomwa.



The other programmes they are set to show include Umunthu which is a talk show and that it will be showing on MBC TV, Ching'aning'ani and the The Praise, a talent show which they intend to do.



"We want to do a talent show that will develop and expose that talent; we have the studios, the network and the equipment to produce this programme. The impact of television should not be taken rightly and so there is a lot we are doing at Mibawa," he said.



Nthakomwa said their mission is to drive excellence in the packaging and development of the arts, culture, multimedia and events in entertainment, edutainment and culture.

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  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
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  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
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