By TROY MUKUPA
The Zambia Music Copyright Protection Society (ZAMCOPS) held its 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the NIPA Conference Center Hall in Lusaka, with the National Arts Council of Zambia (NAC) Board Chairperson, Maureen Lupo Lilanda, as the guest of honor. The event was held under the theme “Celebrating Progress through Music and Culture”.
In her keynote speech, Lilanda emphasized the importance of investing in the right legal framework to support the enforcement of intellectual property rights and enhance the collection of royalties for artists. She announced that the NAC is reviewing the National Arts Council Act and invited artists to participate in the process.
“We strongly affirm that arts play an important role in national social and economic development,” Lilanda said. “We believe that we should invest in the right legal framework to support the enforcement of IP rights and enhance collection of royalties for the artists to earn a living from their work.”
ZAMCOPS Board Chairperson, Gloria K. Siyazana, highlighted the organization’s achievements, including the distribution of K984,234 in royalties to members. She also noted the challenges faced by the organization, including the ailing economy and load shedding, which have affected compliance with copyright licenses.
Siyazana emphasized the importance of collaboration and unity in driving growth and innovation in the creative sector. “We are now closer to achieving our goals than we have ever been before, and with your unwavering support, we will strive to push boundaries and reach greater heights,” she said.
The AGM also paid tribute to two members who passed away, Mr. Paul Tembo and Mr. Raphael Chimulambe.
And in a post-event interview, Zambian Music Copyright Protection Society (ZAMCOPS) General Manager, Mirrias Siamutondo, expressed appreciation to everyone who attended or followed the proceedings, highlighting the importance of the AGM in shaping the organization’s future.
“We are thrilled with the level of engagement and participation in this year’s AGM,” Siamutondo said. “The feedback and input from our members will undoubtedly inform our strategic direction and enable us to better serve the interests of our stakeholders. We appreciate the continued support and trust reposed in ZAMCOPS, and we remain committed to driving growth and innovation in the Zambian music industry.”
