By Suleman Chitera, Lilongwe, Malawi – July 7, 2025
In a major boost to Malawi’s growing film industry, Prophet Shepherd Bushiri, through his flagship development project Goshen City, has donated K50 million to the producers of the highly anticipated movie Welcome to Maula Prison.
The donation, announced today, aims to allow all Malawians to watch the film for free on YouTube, starting from 6 PM this evening.
Presenting the cheque to 4 Kaya Films Inc., the production team behind the movie, Prophet Bushiri emphasized the importance of supporting local creatives and promoting high-quality film content. He challenged filmmakers to raise their standards to international levels, saying Malawi’s stories deserve a global audience.
“I am already in final discussions with Netflix,” said Bushiri, “so that Malawian films can soon find a place on their platform. But for that to happen, we must focus on producing world-class films.”
Receiving the donation, Kendal Kamwendo, a senior official at 4 Kaya Films Inc., expressed gratitude to Prophet Bushiri for his generous contribution and commitment to the arts.
“This support means everything to us,” Kamwendo said. “It’s not just about this film — it’s about building an industry. We’ve already begun scripting our next project, and we’re confident it will surpass Welcome to Maula Prison.”
Kamwendo also addressed public concerns about the film’s delayed release, noting that necessary procedures had to be followed. He added that their previous project, School Days, took four months to reach YouTube, while Welcome to Maula Prison is being released just three months after production.
The free release of Welcome to Maula Prison marks a milestone for Malawi’s film sector, highlighting both the talent of its creators and the growing support from visionary leaders like Prophet Bushiri.
