A sudden shake‑up at Malawi's copyright authority
raises questions over procedure.
In January 2026, Malawi's Office of the President and
Cabinet unexpectedly reconstituted the Copyright Society of Malawi
(COSOMA) Board, replacing chairperson Eziaus Mkandawire with Bishop
Chimwemwe Mhango and removing musician Deborah Ntopa. Outgoing
members expressed concern that the removal process may have
contravened the Copyright Act's provisions. Government
officials did not provide reasons for the changes, stating only
that board reshuffles occur due to "exigence of
duty".
This has however not deterred investors, with the NICO Group
evidently committing K45 million to the COSOMA in support of its
"Investments School of the Arts" programme, designed to
train artists in financial management, insurance, and investment.
The initiative forms part of Malawi's broader 2063 national
development agenda and reflects continued private‑sector
confidence despite governance concerns.
