BOT50 reported to DCEC
Sharon Mathala | Thursday June 2, 2016 15:26
Apparently it was a tender which allegedly did not follow procedure.
Mmegi is reliably informed that transport used for the two shows cost P34,000 each. The VIP setup was allegedly penned at P250,000 and collectively artists performing at the two shows were paid P300,000 for each show.
Sources have leaked documents from the Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association (BEPA) directed to the BOT50, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture as well as the DCEC instructing an investigation into the said matter.
In the document to the DCEC, BEPA is crying foul saying, “we are aware that Ngwao Brand Architects was awarded to manage the events therefore we seek clarity on how they were appointed, whether it was a direct appointment, and what merits were used in appointing them. Was there ever a procurement procedure that took place e.g. open call, tender call or EOI?”
The letter continued: “We are aware that the ultimate suppliers did not get paid the money that was presented on the budget as per the submitted invoices by the event manager.”
Meanwhile when appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) the BOT50 coordinator, Charity Kgotlafela was accused of secrecy about the build up celebrations.
Tati East Legislator, Samson Moyo Guma said the committee had failed to clearly define their transparency when dealing with the celebrations. In their defence, Kgotlafela told the PAC that they had engaged an all-local line up of artists for the celebrations.
Efforts to solicit a comment from Kgotlafela were futile at time of going to press, as her phone rang un-answered.
The “beef” involving promoters, artists and BOT50 got messy over the past two weeks after Kgotlafela slammed local promoters, saying some of them have been known not to pay artists after events, hence they decided to handle their own events.
At the press conference held last week, the President of BEPA, Zenzele Hirchsfield strongly condemned the statement by BOT50 and demanded an apology from them.
Hirchsfield said that they would draft a letter of complaint to the Office of the President. Yesterday BEPA, spokesperson Gilbert ‘PP’ Seagile confirmed that the letter was handed to President Ian Khama last week.
Seagile also confirmed that a file had been sent to the DCEC but refused to go into details.
“Because the matter is still with these offices we will not discuss it with the media. But we will issue a statement soon,” confirmed Seagile.