Registration Debate rocks film association of Malawi

 A dispute has erupted within the Film Association of Malawi (Fama) over a proposal to register the organization under the Companies Act, 2013. Fama has been operating without formal registration, and the current leadership believes this has hindered the organization's ability to fulfill its mandate.

Fama President Dorothy Kingston explained that registering under the Companies Act is a temporary measure while they await incorporation under the Trustees Act. "When we came into office, our primary goal was to change the way things are run," she said. "One of our objectives was to have Fama incorporated to improve financial management, among other things."

However, not all members are convinced. Actress and filmmaker Flora Suya expressed concerns that registering as a limited company could lead to a loss of funding from government and international organizations. "They should provide us with adequate information to understand the benefits of this decision," she said.

Seasoned filmmaker Charles Shemu Joyah took a more neutral stance, emphasizing that Fama should remain a member-based association with power in the hands of its members. "If registering as a company is an interim step to enable the executive to be effective, then I have no problem with it," he said.

Fama General Secretary Ignatious Scott Kaphinde noted that the organization will convene to discuss the proposal and determine the best course of action. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Fama will proceed.