Conflict of Interest Storm as COSOMA Board Members Pocket Over K35 Million in “Artist Grants”
What was billed as a landmark day for Malawian creativity has been tainted by a glaring question: how transparent is the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) when those holding the purse strings end up holding the biggest cheques?
During a colourful ceremony at Lilongwe Hotel, COSOMA proudly announced the disbursement of K190 million to selected artists to take Malawi’s talent global. But hidden beneath the applause and speeches was an eyebrow-raising fact — over K35 million went directly to COSOMA’s own board members.
Board Chairperson Rev. Dr. Chimwemwe Mhango was awarded K19.5 million, while fellow board member Deborah Ntopa walked away with K16 million. These are the very people who sit at the helm of COSOMA’s decision-making — raising unavoidable concerns about conflict of interest, fairness, and whether other deserving creatives were sidelined.
Transparency experts are already warning that this blurs the lines between governance and self-enrichment. “When the referees start scoring goals, the whole match becomes questionable,” one governance analyst said on condition of anonymity.
While the official list of other beneficiaries includes music star Lulu Khwisa (K20 million), Kingston Zeze (K20 million), the Malawi Writers Union (K20 million), and the National Theatre Association (K20 million), the boardroom-to-beneficiary pipeline has left many artists wondering: Was this process truly competitive, or just a well-dressed form of insider privilege?
COSOMA Chairperson of the Copyright Fund Committee, Robert Kapyepye, insisted the grants were meant to propel local creatives onto the international stage. Yet, with two board members now on that very stage — backed by public money they helped allocate — the optics are hard to ignore.
This isn’t just about money. It’s about trust. COSOMA’s credibility rests on its ability to fairly represent all artists, not just those with a seat at the table. Until full details of the selection criteria and evaluation process are made public, the applause from Lilongwe Hotel may echo with an uncomfortable question:
When COSOMA opens its wallet, is it really for the artists — or for itself?
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It takes strong character to admit that what should be a celebration for Malawian artists instead exposes how self-interest and greed cripple progress. When board members become both referees and players, fairness is lost, and hungry children, abandoned villages, and struggling communities are left with nothing but broken promises.
In the country and village where I live, I see children going to bed hungry while resources meant to uplift society are redirected for self-enrichment. Religion is often used as a stage for “wannabe stars,” basking in praise while real service to people is forgotten. This is not leadership—it is a betrayal of trust.
Malawi, like much of Africa, is rich in talent and spirit, but without integrity, these riches turn to dust. Feeding a hungry child, protecting the vulnerable, and serving the people should be priorities—not afterthoughts. Until compassion outweighs greed, and vision is placed above personal gain, we will continue to witness talented nations weakened by the very people meant to protect them.
Greedy people and this is obvious with its board chair who is money hungry
This means the organization offering the grant (in this case, the Copyright Fund) requires you, as an applicant or grantee, to declare any situation where your personal interests, relationships, or roles might interfere with, or appear to interfere with, your impartiality in receiving or using the grant.
A conflict of interest can be:
• Actual: a direct situation already in place (e.g., you are related to someone on the grant selection committee).
• Potential: something that could arise in the future (e.g., you plan to hire a close friend’s company with the grant funds).
By signing the form, you confirm that:
1. You understand the regulations that govern fairness and transparency in funding.
2. You have either disclosed any such conflicts or confirmed that none exist.
In short, they want to make sure no unfair advantage, favoritism, or misuse of grant funds occurs due to personal connections or interests.