11 Apr 2018

Parliament has learnt that there used to be an annual festival in Tonota held on December 26, which was called Bo-Rangolo, but that the promoters discontinued it on their own volition before the Remmogo Festival came into being.

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Mr Thapelo Olopeng said this in Parliament on Tuesday, when responding to a question from the MP for Gaborone North, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa.

Minister Olopeng said the Remmogo Festival could not be said to have taken the organisers out of business.

“I am not in competition with the disc jockeys (DJ) as alleged by MP Nkaigwa, therefore the issue does not arise,” he said.

He further explained that KBL had not spent any money on the Remmogo Festival which the MP described as the minister’s festival. He said it was the prerogative of promoters to approach any sponsor of their choice to finance their festival.

Gaborone North MP had asked the minister if he was aware that the Tonota Re Mmogo Festival had taken the young people who used to host Bo-Rangolo Festival in Tonota out of business, and if so, whether it was ethical for the minister to compete directly with promoters and DJs.

Mr Nkaigwa also wanted to know how much was spent by KBL in sponsoring the minister’s festival annually, and how he expected other promoters to benefit from the same sponsorship.

Still in Parliament, Minister Olopeng explained that his ministry regularly interacts with stakeholder organisations such as Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) and often intervened in their affairs as and when necessary.

He, however, told the House that he did not make any public statement that he would dissolve BOMU.

Mr Olopeng explained that associations and sub sectors of the arts such as BOMU, Visual Arts, Film and Ngwao Loshalaba Association were not budgeted for on an annual basis.

“But like all other arts and culture associations/organisations and practitioners they submit applications to the ministry when they have a need. Such are assessed in line with the MYSC grant guidelines,” he said.

He said there were no tax rebates for sponsors of the arts, adding that nonetheless it was a desirable prospect and that his ministry was prepared to engage further with relevant stakeholders on the matter.

MP Nkaigwa had wanted the minister to state what informed his position when he made a public statement that he would dissolve BOMU.

He also asked how much was budgeted annually for BOMU, Visual Arts, Film and Ngwao Loshalaba Association, and if there were any plans to have tax rebates for those sponsoring arts. Ends