By Rahim Abdul
In a bid to breathe new life into the stalled Blantyre Cultural Centre development project, the government is considering handing over the facility to the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA).
Minister of Local Government, Unity, and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda revealed that COSOMA has proposed taking over the centre, which has been under renovation for years.
The Minister expressed frustration with the slow progress of the works, which has denied the creative sector a proper venue to showcase their talents.
“Lack of venues affects our artists because most of them can’t afford hiring private institutions,” he said.
However, he welcomed COSOMA’s proposal, stating that the organization could potentially bring the project to fruition.
COSOMA Board Chairperson Chimwemwe Mhango expressed excitement over the government’s willingness to consider their proposal.
“Once we get a nod from the government, we will invest a lot in terms of resources, engaging better constructors and other expertise to bring it back to the old glorious days in the earliest time possible,” he said.
The rehabilitation project, which involves massive redesigning, requires about K200 million to complete. With COSOMA’s potential involvement, the creative industry is hopeful that the Blantyre Cultural Centre will finally be restored to its former glory, providing a much-needed platform for artists to showcase their skills.
