Government through the Ministry of Information has urged local writers to digitalise their work in order to reach wider audiences and increase book sales.
Minister responsible, Shadric Namalomba made the call on Sunday at DMI St. John The Baptist University in Mangochi during the launch of three books by renowned scholar and author, Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga.
Namalomba said the traditional model of selling hard copies limits the reach of Malawian literature because readers end up sharing and lending the same copy instead of buying new ones.
“If we continue relying only on hard copies, our books will circulate among a few people, but when we take our work online, it gets exposed to the global ends and the chances of high sales increase,” Namalomba said.
The minister described Malunga as a living legend and a master of literature whose contribution to Malawi’s literary space deserves national recognition and respect.
“Government will commit to supporting all forms of arts because they have economic benefits and authors like Professor Malunga are showing us that books can be both a cultural asset and a source of income,” said Namalomba.
In his remarks, Malunga said Malawi has endless stories that need to be documented and shared with the world.
He noted that writers can draw inspiration from tradition, environment and everyday life.
“There is always something to write about in this country, from our tradition to the environment and the everyday life of Malawians, especially in rural areas, the material is there,” Malunga said.
The book launch at DMI St. John The Baptist University attracted students, lecturers, literary enthusiasts and government officials who described it as a celebration of Malawi’s intellectual heritage.
The three books launched were Nasiwero ndi ndakatulo zina, Taming the State of Mind, and Writing Odyssey, which are being sold at minimum prices of MK25,000, MK25,000 and MK30, 000 respectively.
