Artists presses Electronics 4 U to vacate blank media levy injunction
Artists on Friday invaded Electronics 4 U shop in the capital Lilongwe in a bid to seek answers on why the owner of the shop popularly known as Muhamad got court injunction restraining the blank media levy which was supposed to directly benefit artists including musicians amidst increased cases of piracy.
Government introduced a levy on all storage devices with an aim of protecting the creative industry which is faced with a proliferation of music websites where people download creative works such as music for free something not benefiting the artists.
However, Muhamad is believed to have gone to court and get an injuction against the same thereby irking artists in the country and they mobilised themselves to confront him so that he could explain his intentions.
Speaking during the exercise, team leader Anthony Dumba said Muhamad potrayed a selfish spirit and as such artists can not sit and watch him doing business that infringe others.
Dumba said the levy was expected to save musicians who are not enjoying the fruits of their hard work due to levels of piracy in the country despite existence of the Copyright Act of 2016.
“As artists in this country,we are very sad for what Muhamad did, he went to the court to take an injuction restraining us from getting a little benefit from the levy. Government considered us by introducing this scheme but it seems like other evil minded people like Muhamad do not want to see us smile and we can’t tolerate that nonsense.
“We are here today,we want Muhamad to go and vacate the injuction as soon as yesterday,we are tired,if he is not going to do that ,he will see and he will regret what will happen here,”he said
Gospel artist Thoko Katimba also concurred with Dumba saying they will do anything until the injuction is vacated and they have since warning other business people in the country to respect the scheme.
According to Katimba, with the help of Copylight Association of Malawi (Cosoma) the levy was suppose to be charged and collected on importation of items such as audio and video cassettes, compact discs (CDs), modulator, MP3 player, Blu-Ray, USB flash disc and Sim card.
In his response Muhamad said he was going to take an action within 5 days.
Among other artists who were available during the exercise are Skeffa Chimoto, Gloria Manong’a, Kendal, Vincent Kadzakumanja, Peter Mlangeni, Aphraim Zonda of Great Angels, Francis Phiri of Marvelous Deeds, Kondwani Chirwa, Limbani Simenti, Peter Sambo,Gloria Fachi from Mzuzu and Chimwemwe Binauli of Kamuzu Barracks among others.
Blank Media levy is a government-mandated scheme in which a special levy is charged on purchases of recordable media. Such taxes are in place in various countries and the income is typically allocated to the developers of “content” including actors, musicians and poets.
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Koma oyimbawa ndiye akumvetsa chisoni. Kuchita kutuwa ngati bondo la mbuzi.
Stupid Malawian artists. Who told you that all blank media devices are used for copying music? By the way who told you that we Malawians love your music? We use media devices for storing data that can transform Malawi and not your stupid noise you claim to be music. If you are good musician why don’t you shine at international scenes? So you want to get rich by getting our hard earned money in form of levies? Work hard and eat your sweat.Bravo Electronics 4 U.
Very Unfortunate.How can you speak foolishly?
give facts brother, we pay more levies already and this one is non starter. I do not copy Malawian music and no need to pay the levy.
What a load of nonsense, the artists won’t even get a cut from the blank media levy. All it’s going to do is just increase the prices of already expensive electronic items. Leave the shop owners alone and tell your government to fix how they implement useless charges like these. How is adding a levy on sim cards going to stop piracy? COSOMA and all the artists that went there are all a bunch of hypocrites and are a shame to this nation.
In no other country is Blank Media levied. It is a commodity. The artists should approach COSOMA, who’s job it is to collect revenue for them from Radio Stations, etc. Blank Media is blank, so why should you receive money from the importation of Hard Drives used to carry company data? This stupid levy is basically an additional tax on import of Media Devices, when already enough is being charged as Import Taxes, Excise and VAT. All these Mickey Mouse artists must go and fight with COSOMA for what they are genuinely owned, not free money from someones devices imported… Read more »