MAM, Chibuku in wrangle

Musicians Association of Malawi (MAM) has accused Chibuku Products of not giving them their share of the gate collections from the just ended K12 million Chibuku Road to Fame Music Competition in Mzuzu.

MAM who partnered Chibuku to run the competition expected to get part of the gate collections, but claim that Chibuku is not cooperating. Chibuku, however, has denied the allegations.

MAM treasurer general Young Chilaga said on Tuesday that they asked Chibuku to put a minimum fee for the show to help their secretariat run the competition.

“Chibuku wanted the show to be for free. It was our idea to introduce a fee for the patrons. But we were surprised to note that they did not involve us in collecting the money. We don’t even know how much they collected,” said Chilaga.

“We have been trying to reach Chibuku but we are not getting any luck,” he said.

However, in a phone interview, Chibuku Products marketing manager Timothy Sukali said it is up to Chibuku management to decide either to give MAM gate collections or not.

“They should write a letter to management requesting for the money which will be given to them as a thank you,” he said adding that the gate collections came to K21 000.

Patrons were expected to buy a bottle of Chibuku to witness the competition. Those who do not drink were paying K200 at the gate.

Sukali said they used the occasion to launch their bottled beer. As such, he said, MAM should not expect a share from sales of beer.

“We cannot tell them how much we sold our beer and it cannot happen for them to get a share of our sales,” said Sukali.

For the first time, the competition took place in Mzuzu where Pa Mlonga Band won the competition.