• INFORMATION and Broadcasting Services Minister Mwansa Kapeya (left) talks to National Association of Media Arts chairperson Patrick Salubusa and ZAMCORPS general manager Mutale Kaemba (right) at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by STEPHEN KAPAMBWE

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –

INFORMATION and Broadcasting Services Minister Mwansa Kapeya has said the digital migration will present a fertile ground for local actors to generate better income and create employment for the youths.
Mr Kapeya said the digital era would give an opportunity to the National Association for Media and Arts (NAMA) members to provide soaps, movies, comedies, talk shows and other audio visual products to satisfy the yawning market.
Mr Kapeya said this yesterday when he witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NAMA and the Zambia Music Copyright and Protection Society (ZAMCOPS) held at his office.
The MoU would see ZAMCOPS collect royalties from the sale of holograms on behalf of NAMA and ensure that artistes and producers in the film industry were appropriately rewarded for their intellectual property through effective administration and enforcement.
“With the introduction of the holograms members should take advantage of the conducive environment and produce indigenous Zambian films without worrying about the theft of their intellectual property through piracy,” he said.
Mr  Kapeya, who is the NAMA patron, said so far Government had raised K650,000 from the sale of holograms since the introduction of the security feature in September last year.
He said that translated into K65,000 in mechanical rights due to the artistes for their various works.
“I am happy as your patron for your continued hard work in addressing the various challenges faced by Zambian filmmakers such as funding, production and distribution of the audio-visual content within Zambia and beyond,” Mr Kapeya said.
He commended the Association for partnering with the Zambia Institute of Mass Communication on the introduction of a film school in Zambia.
NAMA chairperson Patrick Salubusa said his association was happy to work with ZAMCOPs in the collection of royalties.
ZAMCOPS general manager Mutale Kaemba said the implementation of the hologram was a big step in the right direction.