10 Apr 2018

The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development spent P500 000 as sponsorship of the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) Music Awards in 2017.

Answering a question in Parliament on April 9, Minister Thapelo Olopeng said no individual was awarded sponsorship larger than that of BOMU by his ministry.

He said his ministry sponsors programmes that are in line with its mandate.

Mr Olopeng said the Botswana Music Conference was not hosted by an individual but by a citizen owned company called Events Lab.

The minister said the sponsorship was P249 896 covering operational expenses such as venue, meals, advertisements, transport, accommodation for participants and facilitators.

He also said Botswana Youth Awards were hosted by Remmogo Association and not an individual.

In addition, he said the ministry supported the association with P450 000 for the 2017 Youth Awards in May 2017.

Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa wanted the minister to clarify how much his ministry had spent as sponsorship of the BOMU music Awards in 2017 and state why the sponsorship was less than that given to some individuals who were sponsored by the ministry.

The legislator further wanted to know how much was given to Botswana Music conference hosted by an individual and why it was so.

He further asked the minister how much was given to Botswana Youth Awards also hosted by an individual. ENDS