President Lazarus Chakwera last Friday delivered his fifth State of Nation Address (Sona) to mark the official opening of the 51st. Session of Parliament and 2025/2026 Budget Meeting. Titled Taking our development forward to continue the progress we have delivered, the address also seeks to promote arts and heritage. In this interview, our correspondent HOWARD MLOZI talks with Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture arts director Humphrey Mpondaminga to appreciate artist’s expectations. Excerpts:
Q
: Now that Parliament has passed the Arts and Heritage Council into law. Tell us our expectations?
A
: Well, the National Arts and Heritage Council (Nahec) is primarily going to undertake functions aimed at developing and promoting the creative and heritage industries and will be the implementing agency of most of the provisions under the National Arts and Heritage Act. Stakeholders have for so long observed that there is no central coordinating agency to work with the various non-State actors in the sector. The council fills that gap. The functions of the council include capacity building for creatives, assisting in marketing Malawian cultural and creative products at international level, coordinating research for the sector, establishing and managing the National Arts and Heritage Fund, registering and regulating players in the industry, and to establishing structures for the development of arts and culture at district and community levels.
Q
: President Lazarus Chakwera has just opened the 51st Session of Parliament and 2025/2026 National Budget Meeting of parliament, when will the creatives start getting the budgetary support?
A
: All things being equal, it is expected that Parliament will start allocating funds to the council in the 2025/2026 financial year.
Q
: What is the projected initial budget and who will formulate this budget?
A
: The projected initial budget is about MK3.7 billion. The wish of the ministry is to set up the Nahec secretariat this year and that some programmes under the council should start in the 2025/2026 financial year. This includes registration of players in the sector, capacity building to improve products and services in the sector, marketing of cultural and creative products as the council will push for the marketing of Malawian creative products at international level, administrative expenses, including acquiring capital assets, and funds for the National Arts and Heritage Promotion Fund. For an institution that is yet to be formed, the line ministry sets a technical team to work on its establishment before staff for the institution are recruited. So the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture has a technical team entrusted to work on the preliminary issues, including development of the budget for the council.
Q
: What specific programmes will benefit from the Arts Council?
A
:Programmes aimed at developing and promoting the creative and heritage industries may benefit from the council upon satisfying set conditions at any material time. These include capacity building, support for marketing of products and services, support for creative projects, research for the sector, infrastructure development, grant facility for artists and other players, development of standards for the export of cultural and creative products, just to mention a few.
Q
: How will arts associations get the funding from the Arts Council?
A
: Associations may benefit from the council by following due processes that will be laid down in the regulations for administration of the National Arts and Heritage Promotion Fund.
Q
: Currently, what is the structure of the Malawi Arts Council and where are the offices?
A
: The National Arts and Heritage Council is not yet functional. As you may be aware, the Nahec Bill was enacted on 13th September, 2024 and processes to get it operational are underway. Key to this process is securing the budgetary support from Ministry of Finance.
Q
: What is the main role of the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture in the setting up or administration of the Arts Council?
A
: The Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture will play an oversight role over the council and ensure that it creates an enabling environment for the operations of the council through relevant policy direction.
Q
: Can you add any relevant information pertaining to the effective implementation of the Arts Council?
A
: The National Arts and Heritage Council is long overdue. We need the council for arts and culture in Malawi. The creative and heritage industries is one of the rapidly growing sectors of the economy and can contribute significantly to income generation and trade if properly supported. For the sector to thrive, it requires structures to support the stakeholders in the sector. Government through the ministry is, therefore, working to ensure that the council is this year established.
