National Union of Botswana Arts aims to formalise industry

LAWRENCE SERETSE
Correspondent | Thursday January 24, 2013 00:00

Union of Botswana Arts (NUBA) that will, amongst other things, help artists earn a living from their work. Although Moshaga is still awaiting approval from the Registrar of Companies to use the name he has proposed, he is confident once that detail has been ironed out, NUBA will improve the levels of professionalism in Botswana's artistic world.Moshaga, the former president of Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU), revealed that his long-term strategy involves putting in place this union that will oversee, give direction to and monitor the business transactions of the artistic world. NUBA's mandate is to treat artists of all disciplines as employees and employers; terming them as eligible for taxable income, contractual and pensionable service providers.

Moshaga looks to the Trade Unions and Employees Organisation Act, Chapter 48:1 of the constitution as proof that artists have the constitutional right to be engaged in contractual agreements with their employers and employees.Moreover, policies such as insurance, gratuity and pension should apply just like in any formal organisation under the Labour Act. He pointed out that this union will safeguard artists' payment rates to see that their employers do not pay them below the set minimum wage. 'I saw it fit and appropriate to enhance the image of any artist and to create a safer and well protected environment, with bargaining power for them.

That is to say we are going to see a situation that will teach artists how to apply professionalism to their artistic business,' he said. He said that NUBA advocates for artists to be paid very well and fairly; and for their artistic business to have security and insurance. He said that as employees in this industry, they must also be able to qualify for bank loans because the arts is their form of employment and in that regard, NUBA will ensure professionalism and good business management by the artists(employees).

Moshaga's vision is to revolutionise the industry such that all artists are recognised and respected as business people.Moshaga argues that this old age practice of people with artistic talent not being paid very well or at all and being told that they are being given opportunities to expose themselves, is dragging the economy down. 'This is exploitation of an individual's talent,no matter how little the contribution is, there should be a secured and well-deserved pay for it,' he said. 'I'm trying to curb a situation where artists are being taken for granted because of lack of professionalism and sound management. This is where NUBA steps in again, every contractual agreement between any artist and the third party, passes through our offices first,' he clarified.

Moshaga said when an agreement is made, signed contracts between the artist and the client and sub-contracts between the artists and his employees (dancers, producers, editors, designer etc.) are forwarded to NUBA for cross-examination to ensure no one is double-crossed.'This comes from the fact that around 20 prominent artists I know passed away mostly broke and with no benefits to either help out at their burials or to leave something behind for their children. It's such a sad scene!' he exclaimed. 'I am looking for a picture that sees artists earning a living offtheir talents and enjoying the fruits of their inputs in a well-managed and strategic way,' he added. 'It is visionary for me; I'm on a journey towards excellence and this is a national project. I am BOTA accredited in business management and strategy development,' he bragged.

The new union will employ people, who have been specially trained in fields such as finance, consultancy, accounting, business management and planning, to name a few. No musicians will be part of the management team unless it's by virtue of their professional qualifications, he outlined.Asked whether this new union won't conflict with the already existing bodies in the arts, Moshaga said that NUBA carries an entirely different mandate from them. He said most importantly people must realize that NUBA is a union similar to other worker unions whilst BOMU and others are registered as associations, thus meaning they exist to safeguard the concept of the arts but have no bargaining power. 'We will be watching all these organisations, even COSBOTS as our efforts to protect artists constitutional rights and ensure good governance in them. People should not confuse this, in our benchmarking processes with these associations, they fully understood that we are not in any way stepping in their lane but filling the missing gap instead,' Moshaga said. Moshaga said that they will not be overlooking the fact that the industry does not generate much income yet, but they aim to build a self sustainable system that will keep artists paid. He said that there is a high leadership vacuum in Botswana and the local arts scene lacks business, professional management personnel and strategists to help make money and build a future for the arts. He said NUBA is currently receiving funds from Global Transformation & Networks (Pty) Ltd, a company he owns and other undisclosed major partners. He said the company will avail strategic plans, industry analysis and key performance indicators for artists. 'This union will curb this trend of the same artists getting jobs and it will conduct performance evaluations and auditing. I'm on a voyage to diversify the economy to another level, through ensuring good governance in  the artistic world,' he said. He further noted that artists will no longer be financially unstable because they will be equipped with asset and investment managers,funeral plans, encouraged on insurances and savings. He said: 'Artists are thirsty for that dignity and want to see deliverance from COSBOTS because we have confidence in what they do.' For too long the local entertainment and arts industry has been like a ship lost at sea, carried by a ferocious tide while its captain has no clue where the compass should face. The emergence of NUBA just might be the answer to the shortcomings in Botswana's arts industry.