- Say Minister Rakgare ought to consider stepping down
- Urge members to rally behind their call to start working
GOSEGO MOTSUMI
After the cancellation of their meeting at GSS Grounds in Gaborone on Monday, kwaito-kwasa star Odirile Vee Mampeezy Sento obtained a permit for an open emergency meeting of creatives at Old Naledi Grounds on Tuesday.
Creatives took to the stage to urge members of the public to rally behind them in their campaign to have their industry re-opened after it was shut down nine months ago as part of containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If you happen to know anyone influential, kindly appeal to them on our behalf because we have exhausted all means at our disposal. We came here (to Old Naledi) to promote parliamentary candidates who are now ignoring us when we cry for help,” said Vee, who led the meeting as a key convenor.
Godwin ‘Exotic’ Sebina, who is a promoter, said they would attend Wednesday (today)’s parliamentary session to air their grievances as an industry. “We will be going there to further show how we seriously need the intervention of MPs because we are really struggling while they live comfortably with their guaranteed monthly salaries,” Sebina said.
Key industry players, including Thabo ‘Mapetla’ Ntirang, Obakeng Sengwaketse, Atlasaone ATI Molemogi, Franco Lesokwane, took turns to share their struggles to make ends meet since the State of Emergency came into force. Every creative decried their lack of income and called on the Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force, Dr Kereng Masupu, to open their industry without delay.
“If Minister (of culture) Tumiso Rakgare is failing in his duties, he must just step down and make way for more capable people to take over,” said comedian Penene Ponono.
Kwasa-kwasa maestro Franco noted that his last performance was on 31 December 2019. “We all want to eat and to make our own money,” said Franco. “When I perform, the cab business gets busy. The informal sector, which includes women who sell food, benefits. This in turn contributes to the economy. Open the industry!”