Promoters chart way forward

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday June 10, 2010 00:00

 

The theme of the workshop, which was held at Oasis Motel, was 'thinking ahead, shifting entertainment into the mainstream economy and mapping the way forward'.

BEPA publicity secretary, Shima Monageng, said during their last meeting the interim committee was mandated to work on the constitution, regulations, code of conduct and register members of the association.

He said the workshop was held to update promoters about the developments that have taken place.  'We were just going to give a progress report on the achievements that we have made since our last gathering,' he said.

He added that the workshop was a follow-up to the one which was held in 2007 where it was agreed that they should form an association.  He said last week's workshop was not an annual general meeting.  The annual general meeting will be held at a later stage. 

Delegates at the workshop were promoters from places like Maun, Gantsi, Francistown and Gaborone.  The BEPA spokesman said they informed attendees that a constitution has been adopted and approved by the Registrar of Societies.   The constitution, he said, is meant to regulate the entertainment industry by ensuring adherence to the association's conduct.  The regulations have also been drafted. 

Monageng said one of the objectives of the association is to promote issues relating to the industry through workshops and seminars.

He said it was agreed that BEPA should work hand-in-hand with musicians through the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU).   Another proposal was that BEPA and artists should come up with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) because they are in the same industry. 

Monageng feels that it is high-time that the music industry should be regulated.  To him, the industry has been like a ship without a captain. 

'The time has come to regulate everything in terms of the musicians.  If we want the government and business community to take us seriously, we must take ourselves seriously first.  We should know that as promoters and musicians, we are in business,' he said.

He revealed that BEPA members started registering at the workshop.  In the past, the association did not have paid up members.  Monageng appealed to local promoters to join the association. 

The official further revealed that they have opened offices at African Mall.  The workshop also discussed the benefits for BEPA members.  Some of the benefits that were mentioned included networking, having access to possible tenders and attending educational workshops. 

BEPA members will also be educated on laws pertaining to the industry.

Promoters were encouraged to submit tax returns.  Monageng said by paying tax, the government would have data on how much the entertainment sector was contributing to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

Solomon Monyame, who has been working on the Royalty Collecting Society, briefed the workshop on the progress made.  He said they are on the brink of forming the collecting society.  But he cautioned that this was a long process. 

The MP for Shoshong, Phillip Makgalemele, who was officiating at the workshop, said entertainment is a crucial component of any economy worldwide.  He said it has also provided employment to a substantial number of people. 

Makgalemele said a developed entertainment industry generates foreign currency. 

He mentioned countries like Trinidad and Tobago where, he said, the latest economy statistics showed that the industry was raking in $45 billion a year. 

He said there is absolutely no excuse for Botswana not to strive to reach such heights. 

'It is in forums like this one that the challenges of reaching this goal can be ironed out.  Entertainment creates an added value to tourism and as already alluded to employment creation, it contributes to the government revenue. Given the seriousness that it deserves as an industry may lead to economic diversification, which will have a trickle down effect and ripple effect in income distribution,' said Makgalemele, a former promoter. The legislator said he appreciates BEPA's initiative in bringing musical promoters together. 

He said it has become imperative that music promoters should set aside negative differences and positively come together to create an all-win scenario.  'It is important to speak with one voice,' he said.

He appealed to the association to conduct similar workshops in order to equip its members with information and skills that will enable them to be world-class entertainment providers. 

'An example would be for BEPA to organise workshops that will endow promoters with skills of seeking sponsorship for their envisaged events.  I must also hasten to implore the private sector to assist government in supporting initiatives such as this one and further play a leading role in the promotion of the entertainment industry as already mentioned as a way of further diversifying our economy.'

An official of the Department of Arts and Culture, Dean Molebatsi, also made a presentation at the workshop.  The Department of Arts and Culture has been funding the promoters' association.