Boardroom wars: Achilles heel of Arts Council :: Mmegi Online

When the Act to establish the National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB) was finally enacted, local creatives hailed it as a new dawn for the industry. However, barely a year since the ‘new baby’ was launched, it is fast becoming an Achilles heel for the envisaged commercialisation of the creative sector. Mmegi Staffer, SHARON MATHALA writes on the boardroom wars that have derailed the NACB

The Council, which has also been named as one of President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s achievements, has been running for seven months without a substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Shombie Ellis (48) was appointed to the CEO position last year but she lasted only seven months in office as she was slapped with a suspension letter in July of the same year. Initially, she was to be placed under a three-months suspension. However, the suspension was further extended by another three months until recently when it was made an indefinite full-pay suspension.

But what could have gone wrong? Sources close to the matter have revealed that the CEO’s woes were a result of a power struggle between the Executive Management (EXCO) and the Board. Whilst Ellis has refused to speak to Arts&Culture since her ordeal began, directing the reporters to speak to the Council, a deep throat has revealed that when Ellis was hired to the position, certain key EXCO members had already been appointed some of whom had previously worked with some of the Board members.

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