BOMU adopts new constitution

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday June 21, 2010 00:00

The constitution has split the BOMU vice presidency into two - administration and operations; and finance and research. The other members of the executive committee will be the president, secretary general and three people elected at the General Assembly.

The executive committee will serve for two years. The president, vice president (finance and research) and one executive member will be elected at the General Assembly. The vice president (administration and operations), secretary general and two members will be elected during the succeeding General Assembly. The constitution has introduced district chapters charged with the development and hosting of music related activities.

The chapters would ensure that BOMU directives are enforced at the districts. District chapter one has Kweneng, Southern and the South East.  The headquarters will be in Kanye.  District chapter two has Kgatleng with the headquarters in Mochudi while chapter three has the North East and Francistown, which also serves as the headquarters.

District chapter four covers Kgalagadi and the headquarters will be in Kang. The North West and Chobe make up district five.  Maun is going to be the headquarters of the district. 

District six will cover the Gaborone North while  district seven is Gaborone Central. Gaborone South and Tlokweng form district eight with Gaborone West and Mogoditshane as district nine. District 10 covers the vast Central District and the headquarters will be in Palapye.

Under the new constitution, the union will have an investment and finance committee; a procurement and disposal committee; and the national events organising committee.

The constitution stipulates that foreign artists who are going to perform in the country, would be required to apply for temporary membership of the union. They would be issued with a temporary membership card after paying the required fee.

The constitution mandates the union to protect and represent the socio- economic interests of all musicians and to negotiate deals for musicians.

The union can also facilitate educational music workshops and ensure that the Copyright Act is enforced. The union can advocate for a review of laws and policies that are seen to be detrimental to the development of the music industry.  The union is going to establish a legal fund for musicians.