EMPOWER CREATIVE INDUSTIRES TO BENEFIT FROM THEIR WORKS-CHAMA

By Daily News Reporter

PACRA and ARIPO engaged players in Zambia’s Creative Industry as they celebrated Africa Copyright and Collective Management Day under the theme “Empowering Creative Industries stakeholders building a sustainable Future for Copyright and Related Rights.”

Speaking at meeting engagement, PACRA Registrar and CEO Benson Mpalo stated that the Agency is working toward amending the Copyright and Performance Rights Act in order to create an enabling legal environment for the utilization of Copyrights in the Digital space.

Mr. Mpalo further noted that most of musicians in Zambia and across Africa remain unaware of their rights to be compensated for their music being played on Radio and TV.

“they is need to have a Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) to play a vital role in ensuring that funds for musicians are collected and distributed,” Mr.  Mpalo said.

And officiating the same meeting in Lusaka Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts Permanent Secretary Mr. Fumba Chama also added that government wants the creative sector to be an economic sector and not a social sector.

Mr. Chama on PACRA and ARIPO to work with stakeholders in the creative industry to ensure that players reap maximum benefits.

Meanwhile ARIPO Director Intellectual Property David Njugua added that Globalization of the internet has provided challenges for the creative industry and some challenges can be used as an opportunity for the creative industry to grow because it supports entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation.