Holograms arrives in Zambia next week

 Holograms arrives in Zambia next week

Newcastle, UK, February 22, ZANIS ——The long awaited holograms which will be affixed on audio-visual products are scheduled to arrive in the country next week.

This was disclosed when Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga led a ministerial delegation to OPSEC, a UK based global company specialized in providing anti-counterfeit and brand solutions.

The company which has now completed the works was engaged by the Zambian government to supply 5 million holograms.

The delegation was in Newcastle to undertake a pre – inspection of the holograms before shipment to Zambia.

Mr Malupenga said government was delighted that the problem of piracy that has been a perpetual issue will now be dealt with by the force it deserves.

“Piracy continues to be a key challenge in the country and has been a major reason for the losses that the music and video production industry have continued to suffer on the market,” he said.

He said the coming of the Holograms will not only help enforcement agencies to check duplication and adulteration but will also help consumers in identifying original products.

The Permanent Secretary said soon after the arrival of the holograms, the government will set up a taskforce to oversee the implementation process of the security tags (holograms).

Mr Malupenga further said that government will launch an anti – piracy awareness campaign to sensitise the public on what the hologram is and how it works.

“We are now going to go flat out to spread an awareness campaign against piracy in collaboration with stakeholders such as the Police, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), learning institutions among others,” said Mr Malupenga.

Intellectual Property Specialist Kingsley Nkonde thanked the Patriotic Front government for finally bringing the holograms in the country.

He said the hologram project was embarked on eight years ago by the previous administration adding that he was glad that the PF government chose to priorities the project and complete it within a short period of time. 

And OPSEC Marketing Manager Trevor Willis assured the delegation that the hologram was a tamper proof.

He explained that once affixed on audio-visual products and if a person attempted to remove it, it denigrates into pieces.

Government announced plans in 2005 to affix a hologram, a security feature on audio-visual products in a bid to certify the originality of the works and curb the problem of piracy.