MACRA impressed with artists’ utilisation of Universal Service Fund

Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has expressed satisfaction with the progress at which artists in the country are utilising its Universal Service Fund.

Speaking in Mzuzu during a third round premier of ‘Welcome to Maula Prison’ movie, the fund’s Project Manager Khumbo Kasambala said the production of the movie, is a testament of such utilisation.

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He called for more actors to utilise it by pitching to the fund with their respective projects.

“What we want is to boost Malawian content on our media channels; currently only around 20 percentages of it is local.

“We are impressed to see that the ‘Welcome to Maula Prison’ movie is not only showcasing great talent but there is also a huge improvement in terms of production which is very encouraging,” said Kasambala who further noted that the production gives hope of further growth of the film industry in Malawi.

Public Relations Officer for ‘Welcome to Maula Prison’ movie project, Desire Namachotsa appreciated the statutory body for setting up the fund which she said is an answered prayer to the artists.

“Good and quality things are expensive and movie making is no exception. Our movie industry can only grow if there are more sources of funding like the Universal Service Fund.

“Aside to that, we appreciate the support that we have received from Malawians across the country. It has made us feel proud of our work,” she said.

The premier, which delayed by over an hour in scheduled time due to slow turn out, ended on a high note with patrons who filled the hall to the brim, showering praises on the production team.

“I must confess that I am impressed beyond my expectation because the production is far better than most Malawian productions we have seen,” said Tawina Sangano, one of the patrons.

Another patron, Daud Banda said: “The acting, the picture, the sound, the content and everything else are top notch. I say bravo to the team for a great production.”

Universal Service Fund is a unit under Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority set aside to help achieve digital inclusion for all Malawians. It is a contributory fund from all telecommunication agencies in the country.