National Arts Council gets Presidential commitment
President Lazarus Chakwera on Monday committed that his government will see to it that the long-awaited Arts Council is created.
The President said the government appreciates the role that artists play in the country.
In his address monitored on Monday evening on taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation during the World Arts Day, Chakwera said he is appreciative of the various creative services that artists offer Malawians.
He said: “We are committed to enacting legislation to ensure that your work is valued and protected, including the long overdue National Arts and Heritage Council [Nahec] Bill.
“We are committed to strengthening institutions that are responsible for regulating the creative sector and providing opportunities for value addition.
“We are committed to harness the power of creativity so that your art contributes to self-reliance and worth creation in line with the Malawi 2063.”
On his part, Poetry Association of Malawi president Robert Chiwamba said he was optimistic that the bill will eventually be passed following the President’s commitment.
He said: “To begin with, I am happy that in the first place the President thought of addressing the whole nation in appreciation of art. That is commendable especially now when art is being neglected in preference of science.
“On the Nahec Bill, I will choose to be optimistic. The President’s address shows that he knows of the said bill and just like he put it, it is long overdue and something that most of us, artists, are eagerly waiting for. We hope that concerned stakeholders will expedite the process of passing the Bill into law.”
Commenting on the same, Musicians Union of Malawi president Vita Chirwa applauded the President for the commitment.
“It was pleasing to hear the President mention Nahec for the first time. He also acknowledged in his statement that it is long overdue. It is the news we have been waiting to hear, that the Bill is just around the corner. It remains to be seen if it will materialise this year, but that is our wish,” he said.
Photographers Association of Malawi president Lucky Mkandawire said he hopes the President will follow his statement with action.
He said: “This is really exciting news to the creative industry because for far too long that has been our dream. The passing of this draft Bill has so many benefits including creating opportunities for individual artists as well as arts associations.
“We have always been assured of the bill being ready for tabling, but that has not come to pass. So, we urge the President to live by his word, his commitment should not just be a mere political rhetoric.”
In a separate interview, director of Arts Humphrey Mpondaminga said they have been working on the Bill since January and at the moment the Ministry of Justice is done with it and now they want to submit it to the Office of President and Cabinet for clearances before it is taken to parliament.
He said they are hopeful to have the Bill tabled during the June parliamentary sitting. He said the Bill is progressive since they had to learn from other countries to make it inclusive and solid enough.
The National Arts and Heritage Council Bill was first drafted in 2015 following the approval of the Culture policy.
