BOMU worried about slow take off of royalty body

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Wednesday February 3, 2010 00:00

Addressing a press briefing at the GICC, BOMU Secretary General, Seabelo Modibe  said the musicians body has already expressed its dissatisfaction with the slow implementation of  the collecting society.

Modibe said it is worrying that two years since a  public company was registered for this purpose, it is yet to start work.  ' It has been two years since the company was registered, but they have not registered members, they have not elected new board members, they have not held a press conference.  They are supposed to be a public company. We met with them and told them we are not happy with the way things are going', Modibe said at the press conference.

The BOMU secretary general  dismiseed claims that the collecting society has not taken off due to financial constraints. ' They could request for grants from  government...they can talk to us as BOMU we could invest in the collecting society by borrowing them  a certain amount which would be returned with interest', Modibe said.

Meanwhile Modibe praised BOMU executive Committee for fighting piracy saying that committee members such as Alfred Mosimanegape, the Vice president of BOMU  have taken it upon themselves to  drive around piracy hotspots in Gaborone and confiscate pirated material.  

Modibe said last year a local musician Maxy, was paid P50 000 by a Chinese shop owner who was caught selling pirated copies of Maxy's music. Modibe said the issue was settled out of court, and that BOMU witnessed the transfer of funds between the Chinese man and Maxy.