At MultiChoice Malawi’s annual showcase for the news media, both government officials and company representatives stressed the need for collaboration.
Baldwin Chiyamwaka, Principal Secretary for Malawi’s Ministry of Information and Digitalization, reported that broadcast policies were under development, and according to local reporting, he ‘spoke volumes of partnerships in raising awareness about piracy.
“Government is committed to fighting piracy, but all Malawians should join in this fight. Piracy remains the number one contributor of revenue loss and it has the potential to reverse the gains that have been made in the film industry,” said Mr. Chiyamwaka to a reporter for Malawi’s Nation Online.
MultiChoice Malawi’s Managing Director Averess Ndlovu Chella said that the company has increased its efforts against piracy because it steals revenue that otherwise funds local productions and supports African talent.
MultiChoice head of sales Henry Edwin Banda added that “People invest time and money and others just come and reap from what they didn’t sow.” Cable TV revenue can be stolen using credential fraud. Another cause is from illicit decoder devices purchased for access to programming originating in other countries but brought to Malawi.
MultiChoice has agreements in place with the Copyright Society of Malawi to work together with police and uitilizes AI-based monitoring systems against these problems.
Further reading
Ministry, MultiChoice in battle against piracy. Article. April 11, 2025. By Singayazi Kaminjolo. Nation Online (NPL Malawi)
MultiChoice wages war against piracy. Article. April 11, 2025. The Times Group (Malawi)
Why it matters
Regardless of where it occurs, piracy is a well-recognized threat to creative professionals, video programmers and takes away from business revenue that funds them.
MultiChoice is Africa’s largest media company, and offers pay TV programming and streaming video services across the continent; including in Malawi.
