Is it the world against Vusi and vise versa? Just when everybody was starting to hope that Vusi Mtokufa's problems would fade away, comes another conflict between him and his manager-producer Reuben Lekoeje.

The duo are entangled in a copyright war after the youngster released the album they worked on together with the producer's consent. the two of them were already having problems following an argument over a key to the house they were sharing in Gaborone West. Mtokufa has since moved to Phase 4. Their problem has been compounded by the fact that they have been working without a written contract. Lekoeje believes he has a copyright and that anything related to the album must be cleared with him first, but Mtokufa holds a different view, saying he paid the South African for managing production and branding the album and that he was now free to do what he likes with the material and needed no one's consent.

"If he has a problem then he must go to the police. I paid him for what he was engaged to do and I did not have to beg him if I wanted to release my album. I owe him nothing," Mtokufa declared.

Lekoeje claimed to have spent money on the album and that he would claim all that money plus the copyright. He wondered where the youngster would get money to pay him when he did not even have money for booking the studio.

"I paid for everything and the copyright remains with me until I decide otherwise. He needs to find someone to explain to him what the words 'all rights of producer and owner of the work are reserved' mean. Let me explain this. We had a problem and then while I was hoping that we would resolve them he came to me and told me that he had made a decision that we had to go separate ways and that he did not trust me with his life. I agreed because I could see nothing was going to change his mind. But he was not saying anything about the album, which was complete just waiting to be released," he said.

Lekoeje said he only learnt of its release in Mmegi and that a few days later found some posters around town and its copies in music stores.

He said upon enquiring with the Hologram Office he was told that Mtokufa had listed him only as an employee when he went to buy the security devices. However, it has emerged that the office noticed their mistake as the musician was ordered to return the holograms last Friday but he insisted that there was no way he could return from Serowe for such a 'nasty issue'. This was despite the fact that the office threatened to send police to hunt for him.

"They can send them, it does not bother me, why can't they wait until I return. If this is a fraud case then I will stand and defend myself in court," he said.

But their problem does not end with the album. Lekoeje claimed that the young gospel musician also owed him money from the Rebecca Malope show at which they performed together.

After they started working together, Lekoeje said he and Mtokufa agreed that they would share 50-50 proceeds from every show that they organised together, but that he never received his share.

"In fact I want every thebe that I am entitled to. Initially I thought we would release the album and then see how it does and then I would see if it would be necessary to get all that I spent or just a certain fraction. When I took over the management of Vusi, he was down and no one wanted to help him. I believed that we all deserved a chance and that despite his problems he still deserved respect. I did not want to judge him for what transpired between him and his past producers or even the fact that he was facing a murder charge but this is what I get in return," he said.

Mtokufa has disputed this, saying he has always had talent and that Lekoeje was a producer and should stop claiming that he was the one who resurrected his (Mtokufa's) career.

It was not long ago when the 17-year-old musician parted ways with Matheke Leteane claiming abuse and exploitation. That was after Leteane and Joel Keetumile nearly came to blows over his control. At some stage Mtokufa claimed Keetumile had enticed him from Leteane's stable introducing him to alcohol and girls. Rumours are that the youngster is back on the bottle and is now out of control again, just after he said he had mended his ways and even released the track, Ke entse qeto.

"The track Ke entse qeto was written by me and not Vusi because I wanted people to see him in new light but unfortunately he does no want to listen and I would not be surprised if people started asking questions," Lekoeje.

It is surprising that while it is clear that the producer is disappointed about the fallout and is determined to get what is due to him, he still refused to say if he would stop the distribution of the album.

"I still believe we can sit down and find a solution to this. At this stage I cannot say what the next step will be, but I need to get rewards for my work and the money that I spent on production," he said.