Malawi Music Board Rocked by Scandal: Ombudsman Probes Copyright Fund Looting Claims
Malawi's creative sector is in turmoil as artists petition the Ombudsman, accusing the Copyright Fund Committee (COSOMA) of blatant corruption and abuse of power. Board members, including Chairperson Bishop Chimwemwe Mhango, are alleged to have awarded themselves grants from the very fund intended for struggling creatives, sparking widespread outrage and calls for immediate investigation and accountability.A significant controversy is engulfing Malawi's creative sector, as artists have formally petitioned the Office of the Ombudsman, alleging rampant abuse of power and corruption within the Copyright Fund Committee (COSOMA). This escalating scandal centers on the shocking revelation that top COSOMA officials, specifically Board Chairperson Bishop Chimwemwe Mhango, and board members Wendy Harawa and Deborah Ntopa, are accused of illicitly benefiting from the very fund they are mandated to oversee, by quietly awarding themselves grants.
The petition, lodged under Section 7(1) of the Ombudsman Act (Chapter 3:07), outlines a series of grave accusations against the COSOMA board. Artists claim there has been a clear conflict of interest, blatant abuse of authority, and the deliberate exclusion of deserving applicants without proper due process. They assert that these actions constitute