Piracy turning musicians into vendors —Kunkuyu

Newly appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife Moses Kunkuyu has remarked that piracy has turned musicians into street vendors and has since demanded immediate action.

Kunkuyu made the observation on Wednesday in Blantyre during a press conference called to outline his ministry’s plans.

A number of musicians have fallen victim of piracy where their songs or videos have found their way into the streets way before they are released.

This has resulted into some musicians setting shop on street corners to sell their music with the hope of curbing piracy.

“Our musicians have turned into street vendors. They are selling their songs by themselves in the streets because of piracy. And this puts them in an awkward situation because when the city council chases vendors from the streets, they are part of the victims,” said the former information minister.

Kunkuyu concurred with commentators who accuse the legal system of frustrating musicians and he insisted that there is need to revisit some laws.

“When pirates are arrested and taken to court, the fines they are given are equal to the cost of three or four CDs. This cannot stop them from piracy,” he said.

As a way forward, Kunkuyu promised government’s commitment to revising the laws to make sure that people convicted of pirating music should be severely punished to deter would be offenders.

That aside, Kunkuyu noted that the Ministry of Tourism is key to the country’s economic development as it can bring forex into the country.

He noted that the ministry is aware of that potential and revealed that plans are in place to make tourist attraction centres accessible to Malawians.

However, the minister, while admitting that hotel costs are a hindrance to many Malawians, called for the preservation of cultural centres in order to attract tourists.

One of the hot topics during the meeting was the fate of Blantyre Cultural Centre, formerly French Cultural Centre, which continues to dilapidate since the facility was handed over to government by former owners French government.

The minister explained that when government purchased the arts mecca, thieves ransacked it which meant that government had to renovate it to make it usable again.

“I am told that renovation will take two years. If renovation takes that long, what about constructing a new one?” wondered Kunkuyu who promised to look into the matter.