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Botswana: Talking Musica - Yes, Query BOMU, But Register Musicians' Union
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
COLUMN
25 March 2008
Posted to the web 25 March 2008
Rampholo Molefhe
One would have thought that the mandate of the 'interim' leadership of Yes, Query BOMU, But Register Musicians' Union BOMU was to 1. Register a trade union of musicians in accordance with the Trade Unions and Employers Organisations Act, or the law that has been put in its place.
BOMU, which is in law and association, and the Botswana Association of Musicians, also an association under the law of Botswana, would dissolve into the newly registered trade union of musicians.
Secondly, the 'interim committee' would campaign across the country to make what was initially a Gaborone organisation of friends of the music industry, in order to give the proposed union a national base.
Finally, in accordance with the rules of elections pronounced in the newly registered constitution of the musicians' trade union, to call elections for the officers as determined in that governing law of the organisation.None of the three has happened.
The interim committee instead went out to attempt to legitimise itself by calling a little referendum among its friends in Gaborone, 81 of them. Perhaps the ones who play regularly at the festivals and the others who record at their studios.
One evening, known only to that little clique which stands to gain money out of extending their stay at the head of BOMU, was announced to the 81 who would go and vote, most of whom would cast their vote for the promoters of their shows and salesmen of the records.
No one would be told who the electoral officer would be. No one would know what the rules of the election would be. No time would be given for members of who were not part of that clique to campaign and announce the policies that they want to bring to BOMU.
The 'interim' executive would stay as close to the electoral process day and night to ensure that the elections were run as it desired.
Phempheretlhe, tired of the mischief at the 'interim committee' would be encouraged to follow his conscience, and leave the clique to achieve its own tricks, which it has learned and mastered over a good five years or so.
No one in Francistown except Stigers Sister would be told what was happening so that it would look like the 'northern region' was also part of this farce.
Maun or Lobatse are too far to be trusted and they should be treated as if they are further away from Gaborone than Francistown.I could very well say to the musicians, I told you so!I told you that you should not be deceived by the tag of 'union' at the end of BOMU.
That word simply means joining two or more things - perhaps a wife and a husband - and it does not always refer to a 'trade union'.
The musicians should have learnt that from the Botswana Teachers Union which went by that name for many years though is was simply a 'society' of friends of the teaching profession. Principals of schools and officials of the Ministry of Education would not be chased away if they attended or sought membership.
In fact they had a right in law permitting them to join for the same reason that a professional teacher would join. But the musicians, whose very livelihood depends on listening, appear to be hard at hearing. How many times did this column warn that BOMU, in its current legal status is vulnerable to infiltration and domination by the promoters, employers and owners of musicians, who, by the way already have an organisation of their own? I should point out that in fact, and in law, the promoters and employers who now want to keep BOMU for their own purposes, are quite within their rights.
It is the musicians who should be accused of being in the wrong place because they continue to refuse to register a trade union which would represent their economic, social and political rights as against those of the promoters, employers and others.
I say, yes the electoral process at BOMU was a complete farce, much like those that happen at Domkrag and BNF.
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One brief look at the primaries for the presidency of the United States and you will not need much further education to see how an election should be done.
So, when we are through with all the queries about that farcical election at BOMU - which they are - the musicians should want a guarantee that the initial mandate of the 'interim committee is fulfilled.
Register a proper trade union; Mobilise a national constituency to ratify the Constitution,Appoint an Electoral Officer to run elections in accordance with the Constitution.
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