BMD: What do you have for artists

| Friday July 9, 2010 00:00

This new political child was instigated by some discontented members of Botswana Democratic Party who had issues with the leadership of their former party. One of the reasons for their argument was that they were disturbed by the way the country was run. Their resentment was directed not only to their former party (BDP) but also to the government of Botswana.

I do not have a problem with anyone leaving their organisation to pursue or realise their own ideals, but I would surely be worried if this decisions are made to suppress the ideals for which I as artist survive on.

I am an artist. I have been one all my life and will always be one and intend to keep it that way for the rest of my life and this is jealously guarded.

I have only one question to ask and this has always bothered me, but before I do that, first let me take you through a couple of reasons why I think the way I do about the BMD establishment.

On April 17 2008, Office of the President issued a directive that requested all public offices, including parastatals, local authorities and wholly-owned government companies to procure all decorations, landscaping, arts and crafts and related goods and services from citizens and 100 percent citizen owned businesses. This directive is in practice right now.

Though many artists have not yet benefited from this initiative, they are hopeful that sooner or later something positive will come their way. Artists are pinning their hopes in this initiative by the president to empower the creative industry. For the first time in the history of this country, here is a president who cares about the artists majority of whom have been marginalised.

Former president Masire had an interest in empowering the farmers even though the industry performed so badly for years with a one way financial value. Masire was himself a farmer of repute. I am not too sure what Mogae's ambition was. He was known to be an economist whose no nonsense attitude led to many indebted farmers loosing their equipment to NDB.

One other thing that we all remember the former president for is to make ARVs accessible to all Batswana. A very patriotic effort indeed.

During the time that Botsalo Ntuane was the executive secretary of Botswana Democratic Party, he commissioned a few artists to produce different items for the party. A large jack was produced under his initiative by me. An effort that was highly commended by artists.

Last elections at the peak of the campaigns, he contrasted that effort by bringing in a South African musical band to perform at his star rally leaving out his own folks most of whom are his supporters. The likes of Maxie, Dikakapa, Lister Boleseng and Cultural Spears to name a few, are equally popular.  From North West through Gauteng and Free State all the way into Lesotho where Setswana - Sotho speaking people are in the majority, I have seen how people including children, respond to the song Kulenyane.

The BMD leadership has made it clear to us potential voters that one of the reasons they squabbled at the BDP was its leadership, particularly the president Khama for running the country through directives. These are the same directives which are meant to empower us the artists.

Now I would like to pose the question to the BMD leadership. This is a question that I have previously posed to other political formations in this country. The question is: What do they (BMD) have in store for us Batswana artists in terms of policies which could attract us so as to be sympathetic to their course?

Masilonyana RadinogaLOBATSE