Surprise wins in traditional instrumentalist competitions
Friday, July 25, 2014
Mongweotsile
While there is no doubt that there was great talent in all the three categories, fans of Solly Sebotso (katara), Andju Lukase (setinkane) or Sight Mongweotsile (segaba) went home a disappointed lot as the judges had their own ideas for winners. Youthful acoustic guitar player, Batlaadira Radipitse, from Gaborone won this year’s katara champion in a controversial decision that saw multitudes of katara lovers murmuring in disapproval.
The Gaborone lad beat impressive and established musicians such as Sebotso of Pidipidi fame, who had to settle for second position in the katara competition.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...