Creative industry gets P11m injection
Pauline Dikuelo | Wednesday February 10, 2016 15:42
CIPA has reserved P42 million to assist in the development of capacity building, quality and diversity of the creative industry under the Technical Devices Fund.
This is the second allocation following the first one where four projects were funded to the tune of P3.2 million. The fund is open to individuals, companies, non-governmental organisations and government departments.
Beneficiaries that were unveiled at an event held in Gaborone yesterday ranged from book publishing where P1.5 million was awarded, theatre with close to P3 million, music and traditional dance group with P1.5 million, film and television with P1.9 million, software development with P875,000 and crafts capacity building with P2.3 million.
Under book publishing, Diphalana Publishers and Modirwa Kekwaletswe were selected while theatre groups include Reetsanang Association, Children Association and Boitshepo Nyati. Music and traditional dance beneficiaries included TseTilodi traditional dance as well as David Slater and Film and Television included Makgabaneng organisation and Cowhorn Productions. Software development has one beneficiary, BlackOak Consulting and under crafts and capacity building there are Ngamiland Council of NGO’s, Talita Moutloatse and Okavango News.
Officiating at the handover, Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Sadique Kebonang said the creative industry could contribute to job creation, poverty alleviation, economic diversification and toward other development goals of Botswana.
“However, I urged CIPA to develop and enforce clear and rigorous project monitoring and evaluation procedures. We want beneficiaries to account for every thebe they have received from this fund,” he said.
In addition, Kebonang said the fund would go a long way in informing strategies aimed at developing the creative industry in the country. He further implored beneficiaries to be more diligent in the use of proceeds from the fund.
“I urge you to view this grant as an opportunity to serve Botswana’s creativity as well as your own personal growth. We must see jobs created, sustainable businesses set up and running and creative works of Batswana granted space in the international arena,” he said.
The money which was collected from the Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) is charged on all locally manufactured or imported devices that are capable of copying and reproducing creative works such as photocopiers, scanners, cameras, blank tapes as well as smart phones.
The Technical Devices Fund levy was established by government in 2008.