Malawi Censorship and Control of Entertainments Act

Wisdom Mayuni

January 3, 2024

Hello everyone, you can download the Censorship and Control of Entertainments Act of Malawi which is a central act in the Malawi films/movies industry. We will always update it as soon as anything changes so please feel free to leave a comment or contact us if you have any questions or feedback.

What is the Censorship and Control of Entertainments Act About?

The Censorship and Control of Entertainments Act is a Malawian law enacted in 1968 and last amended in 2014. It governs the regulation and control of various forms of entertainment within the country, with the stated aims of promoting public safety and morality. It establishes a Board of Censors responsible for reviewing and classifying these works. The Act sets out guidelines for obtaining various permits and licenses necessary for the exhibition, production, and distribution of films, stage plays, and public entertainments. It also includes provisions for the importation and censorship of publications, pictures, statues, and records deemed undesirable for the general public.

Things you can find in the Censorship and Control of Entertainments Act:

Permit System: Public performances, stage plays, film production and exhibition, importation of publications and recordings, and operation of entertainment venues all require permits issued by the Censorship Board.
Censorship Powers: The Censorship Board has broad powers to censor or ban material deemed to be “undesirable” based on various criteria, including obscenity, violence, incitement to violence, racial or tribal hatred, and harm to public morals. These criteria are outlined in the Act but remain somewhat vague and open to interpretation.
Restrictions on Content: Specific examples of prohibited content include depictions of explicit sexual acts, excessive violence, drug use, blasphemy, and material deemed offensive to religious or cultural sensitivities.
Penalties: Violations of the Act can result in fines or imprisonment, adding further weight to its enforcement.