Artists get welfare fund

Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture has launched the first ever Artist Welfare Fund which seeks to support artists in the country in times of need.

Speaking during the launch, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Michael Usi said it high time artists started looking after their welfare better.

The minister, therefore, asked artists not to abuse the fund.

“For anybody to achieve a goal, there is need to be discplined,” he said.

Usi said that to sustain the fund, artists will be required to pay a membership fee.

“We need to be contributing. If we do not, then we will not achieve the goal,” he said.

The Film Association of Malawi (Fama) president Ezaius Mkandawire who represented the arts industry said the news is exciting.

“There are some artists who might not need the fund because they are financially stable. But those who are not financially stable and are not members will still access the fund,” he said.

The fund has started with a K16 million donation from the Malawi Gaming and National Lotteries Board, whose executive director Foster Mlumbe said artists are among the main attractors of tourism.n