12 Apr 2018

It is not true that artistes who perform at Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development events are the same artistes who perform at the Tonota Remmogo Annual Celebrations.

This was said by Minister Thapelo Olopeng when responding to a question in Parliament from Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa.

“It is rather unfortunate for the honourable member to make such insinuations, considering that artistes are at liberty to choose where and when they wish to perform,” he said.

The Tonota Remmogo Annual Celebrations, Mr Olopeng said would never deny artistes an opportunity to perform at the festival on the basis that they were seen performing at ministry functions.

“It is not true that artistes such as Vee and Charma Gal were denied an opportunity to perform at ministry functions because they refused to perform at the Tonota Remmogo festival,” he added.

In fact, the minister said in 2015 and 2016, Vee and Charma Gal headlined at the Tonota Remmogo Annual Celebrations. The two artistes, he said, had never been denied any opportunity to perform in ministry functions.

“In addition, Vee and Charma Gal have been engaged at various events within the ministry: Youth Expo, Khawa Dune Challenge and Cultural Festival, BOT50+1 Celebrations, Now TV Launch and Poverty Eradication Conference,” he said.

Mr Nkaigwa wanted to know why artistes who performed at Mr Olopeng’s ministry events were the same artistes who performed at Tonota Remmogo Festival.

Gaborone North MP also wanted to know if the minister was aware that artistes like Vee and Charma Girl had been denied the opportunity to perform at events in his ministry after they refused to perform at the Tonota Remmogo Festival. Ends