Just like other sectors, the BEPA has renewed optimism for the entertainment sector to thrive in the new Botswana. The BEPA president, Gilbert Seagile, told Arts&Culture that one of the things they would push for is the enactment of an Entertainment Act to regulate the industry. An Entertainment Act is a legal framework that provides regulation for the entertainment industry. According to Seagile, Botswana is the only country that does not have an Entertainment Act, which he says has somehow hindered the industry from growing. “In Botswana, we are currently regulated by the Liquor Act, which is not supposed to be the case. With the Liquor Act, there are limitations when it comes to the provisions for the entertainment industry because we are guided by the regulations, not the law. Botswana has to take that route and follow other developed countries to allow the sector to thrive. We will push the new government to look into this issue because it will help the industry grow,” Seagile said.
Seagile further said the law would come with provisions regarding advertisements for multinational companies as well as controlling airplay of foreign content. “Right now multinational companies are not using local creatives to produce their adverts. We consume adverts from countries like South Africa, which means you have actually denied the locals to benefit from that. There will be value chain beneficiation for local artists,” he added. Furthermore, Seagile said they expect the Ministry of Sports and Arts to create a conducive environment for the creatives to thrive, adding that BEPA will assume an advisory role for the government.
Seagile’s comments come on the backdrop of President Duma Boko’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). In his address, Boko said Botswana needs new industries in sports and entertainment. He said the country has abundant talent with infinite creativity, further stating that the sectors are some that the government will look into in order to diversify beyond diamonds.
