MultiChoice has joined the fight against piracy in Zimbabwe by partnering with various stakeholders to deal with the menace threatening the multi-billion-dollar entertainment and communications industries.
Speaking after the recently held anti-piracy symposium hosted by Afrotopia Creative hub, publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe,
Liz Dziva, said there was consensus that the threat was real, growing and had the potential to significantly disable the industries affected by pirates active in software, music, film and television, literature and other fields of endeavour.
“We were united in our shared concern that piracy is on the increase and that there is a need to take action now to prevent further loss of legitimate business, not just here in Zimbabwe but right across the world,” she said.
MultiChoice Africa has long supported anti-piracy lobbying and action, and its senior anti-piracy manager, Tobias Maja, attended the symposium to air his views and highlight what could be done by professionals united in determination.
“We heard that the piracy problem is causing the world’s legitimate businesses in these areas more than US$71 billion a year in losses, with massive impact on businesses and livelihoods, as well as to contribution to GDP and national revenue streams,” she added.
MultiChoice Africa supports the Partners Against Piracy movement, which campaigns internationally against the problem and works on finding solutions that turn the tide.
“We were delighted with the symposium and with the level of discussion, debate and ideas that resulted from the get-together of like-minded professionals.”
The participants included film-makers, people in the music business, ICT professionals and people from many other backgrounds, as well as other partners from the public and private sector, such as the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association and the Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust.
