Zambezi Magic’s Kwangu dates producers, pastors

In a bid to generate more content from Malawi for the Sadc region channel, Zambezi Magic, the channel’s content executive Kwangu Liwewe was in the country meeting producers, gospel artists and actors.

Liwewe said in an interview on Tuesday she was hopeful some of the movies from the producers may see light of the day on the channel that has already showcased the homegrown soapie Choices and Shemu Joyah’s films Seasons of a Life and The Last Fishing Boat.

Liwewe further said she met the pastors to brief them on the opportunity to feature in a one-and-half hour Sunday Service slot, where they can deliver a sermon and carry out other church activities. Doors are opened further for gospel artists for the Kuyamika gospel show.

“It has been a busy time and I am overwhelmed with the response from the producers and pastors. We will sit down to review the content and I am sure in three months’ time there will be some other content from Malawi,” she said.

According to her, one of the issues that came out in the discussion is that of money. “We discussed that there are two ways we go about it. The first way is licensing, where they produce their stuff at their own cost and present to M-Net who give a 24-month licence. After that period, they can do whatever they want with the licence,” said Liwewe.

On the other hand, she said, works are commissioned where authors submit proposals which are funded by M-Net, who subsequently hold the copyright.

“Currently, we have set aside $25 000 [about K18 million] for each of the 12 movies we will shoot from the Sadc region,” said Liwewe. n