Mogomotsi Moloi
17 April 2008
Hardly two months after assuming office, the Botswana Music Union (BOMU) executive committee finds itself embroiled in a fresh wrangle with some members who are accusing the newly elected team of inefficiency.
This comes in the wake of the newly introduced liquor regulations that saw alcohol trading hours slashed. The reduction in hours has affected the entertainment industry, which relies on bars and nightclubs, but some BOMU members feel that their leaders are doing nothing to arrest the problem.
As a result, some aggrieved musicians and promoters have formed a group to pressurise BOMU to call musicians to an urgent meeting over the issue but the executive has allegedly been stalling.
Gilbert Seagile, of Gilbert Promotions, chairs the pressure group's committee called, Barata Mmino (People who love music). Former BOMU publicity secretary Seabelo Modibe is the secretary of this group which consists of giant musicians like Alfred 'Alfredo Mos' Mosimanapage, Frank 'Franco' Lesokwane, Skavenja and Odirile 'Vee' Sento, among others.
The group yesterday submitted its list of complaints to the BOMU offices. In the document, a copy of which is in Showbiz's possession, the group expresses unhappiness at the way BOMU president Nkgopolang Tlhomelang is handling their proposal and ignoring their request to meet and discuss issues affecting the industry.
"We referrer to a series of telephone conversations between the president and Modibe on Saturday 13 April, Monday 14 and Tuesday 15th in which he requested, on our behalf, that we meet to discuss issues currently affecting the music industry, i.e., Liquor Act and Copy Right Society Establishment," reads part of the four-paged document.
Barata Mmino said they were shocked that Tlhomelang kept on changing stories when they were supposed to meet. They expressed concern that despite their repeated pleas to meet BOMU executive and map the way forward the latter continues to display ignorance.
"It has become clear that the president looks at us as dissidents rather than committed members of the music industry who want to help our beloved organisation's executive committee, which has been popularly elected by us to fight for the rights of musicians hand in hand with us," say Barata Mmino.
They fear that the Liquor Act will soon kill the music business but BOMU is reluctant to address the issue. To this group's surprise, BOMU submitted a letter to the Minister of Youth Sports and Culture, Gladys Kokorwe, without an input from musicians. They said they do not know the contents of the letter save for the little they learnt from Radio Botswana (RB) news broadcast.
The group has gone to the extent of calling a meeting next Monday with Parliamentarians, councillors, other musicians and promoters to come and exchange views.
When contacted, Tlhomelang said he was shocked to discover that the issue had reached the media. He however said the complainants are "an undisciplined lot" that BOMU would not entertain.
The much-criticised BOMU president poured scorn on his detractors, saying "they are politically inclined. "This issue is political. We cannot address the interests of people who want to push their hidden agendas at the expense of musicians."
Tlhomelang pointed out that BOMU is equally concerned about the reduced trading hours but no one should push them or dictate how to address the issue.
"I know that Seabelo (Modibe) is behind this. He lobbies our members to have a meeting to smear us as ineffective and inefficient but that is not possible. BOMU is not fighting for alcohol but for the growth of our industry," he said. He added that he is aware the issue is coming from a political front "but BOMU is not a political institution".
He indicated that the music association should not be seen to be campaigning for alcohol consumption but musicians' basic rights. An emotionally charged Tlhomelang declared that BOMU would not be pressurised by any self-serving individuals.
He said they would take stern action against anyone behind the plot. "We cannot be seen to be negotiating with government while at the same time taking matters to the streets," he said. He pointed out that they are still awaiting Kokorwe's response, as BOMU wants to follow the right channels in tackling various issues.
Tlhomelang said they have a long list of items to be discussed at their retreat in Molepolole this weekend.
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