|
|
Botswana: New Bomu Officials Take Charge
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
19 March 2008
Posted to the web 19 March 2008
Mogomotsi Moloi
New officials of the Botswana Music Union (BOMU) took office yesterday after almost a month's delay caused by the controversy surrounding their election.
The controversy arose after only 81 of the 438 members participated in the polls. Some members who contested positions protested through a letter to the outgoing president Phempherethe Pheto expressing their dissatisfaction. One of their main complaints was that the new committee is dominated by promoters. They claimed that promoters cannot represent artistes because they oppress them (artistes).
Speaking to Showbiz yesterday, the new BOMU secretary general Rasina Rasina said they are happy that finally the membership has solved the internal problems.
He quashed allegations that the venue and date of elections was not advertised. "The delay (to hand over by the old officials) has greatly affected us but we are happy that the issue has been ironed out and we are looking forward to implementing the BOMU strategic plan," Rasina said.
Contrary to public perception, he maintains that the newly elected BOMU executive is capable of taking the industry to greater heights.
He indicated that they believe in corporate governance. He lashed out at those who felt that promoters should not hold executive positions in the music association while they are legitimate members. The BOMU constitution does not clarify who should be a member. The multi-talented theater artiste, Rasina has just returned from United Kingdom where he represented Botswana. He said when he returned, he sat down with Pheto and outlined the consequences of delaying the hand over.
"Justice delayed is justice denied. BOMU membership has spoken and they must be respected," he stressed. He said that 81 members participated in their election, while previously there were cases where only 40 people voted.
He noted that some complaints, which brought BOMU into disrepute came from failure to attend meetings. "The new executive members believe in the spirit of consultation. We will engage every stakeholder for the benefit of BOMU," stated Rasina.
Pheto, who acted as a mediator between the complainants and the new officials feels that he made the right decision by letting the committee take charge.
He pointed out that apart from the promoters' issue, some of the things that cropped up after the elections lacked substance.
"The two parties could not agree on other things but I believe that I have taken the right decision since BOMU constitution does not state that managers or promoters should not join the association," Pheto told Showbiz.
He however indicated that the incoming committee should be very transparent and engage every union member. They should prove critics wrong, said Pheto.
|
The former BOMU president, who has six gospel albums under his name, asserted that the organisation has grown tremendously and the new officials should maintain the momentum.
"The association has grown, this new committee comes into office amid heavy criticism and strong opposition. The same people who complained are the same people they are going to work with and this should not affect BOMU developments."
He warned against factions or sabotage in the organisation.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 Mmegi/The Reporter. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
