The Office of the Ombudsman has declined to investigate a complaint against the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) over the distribution of a K190 million Artists Grant.
The complaint, filed by Timothy Ntilosanje, Faith Mussa, and over 1,600 others who signed the petition, alleged that COSOMA unfairly disbursed K189 million to only ten artists and organizations. Among the beneficiaries were three board members or their companies, while other applicants who reportedly met the criteria received no feedback.
The group asked the Ombudsman to investigate the process, recover funds awarded to conflicted board members, and address alleged abuse of power.
In its response, the Ombudsman acknowledged that the allegations suggested maladministration, unfair treatment, and conflict of interest. However, the office said it lacked jurisdiction under Section 123 of the Constitution, noting that such matters should instead be pursued in court through judicial review.
