Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development Patricia Kaliati has warned against piracy, saying the tendency is depriving musicians in the country the right to enjoy their benefits.

Kaliati said this on Sunday during a mega gospel show organized by Favoured Martha, duped Favoured Celebration, which took place at Robins Park in Blantyre.

The Minister said government will soon embark on a project to flashout people who are pirating local music countrywide.

“Most of our musicians don’t enjoy their sweat due to piracy. The music bootleggers reap where they did not sow while the artists cry foul. So I should warn all those who pirate CDs and DVDs of these artists without their permission [that] we will be on each other’s neck this coming year so that the artists should benefit,” she said.

Kaliati advised artists to continue informing, educating and entertaining people with their music.

Meanwhile, the music industry in Malawi is reacting to the phenomenon of illegal music sharing in a disjointed manner as the interests of artists, record labels and consumers diverge. Music piracy is having a great effect on the music industry, and it is a crime many commit daily.

Piracy has seen some artists in the country to start looking for other means of surviving.