Embattled BOMU needs forensic audit

The legacy of Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) is being tampered with and founding members Duncan Senyatso and Spencer Sekwabale are turning in their graves over this. Former BOMU committee member Seabelo Modibe said this in an interview with The Midweek Sun on the backdrop of scandals besieging the music body. Modibe stated that both Sekwabale and Senyatso had formed the music body because they had a bone to chew with government and wanted a body to communicate that music is a serious career and that artistes deserved legislation to protect them to benefit from their craft. Modibedi pointed out that the challenge with some individuals who ascended to BOMU committees and leadership was that they have no work to protect. “They are not recorded artistes and also do not understand and love music. Rather, they want to be associated with music and look at it as a form of status and personal interests that have nothing to do with elevating the local music industry. They lack knowledge on the dynamics of the music industry and are only focused on self interest.” Modibedi said it was time to give younger people a chance at leading BOMU and rope in new faces. “Why can’t a guy like ATI or a lady like Amantle Brown be in the BOMU executive committee? They must understand issues from the front – chisel administrative know-how; venture into other areas as time goes by. “It is time for a fresh lease of life. Those who have served should go home and welcome new faces of people not tainted by scandals. Public organisations should be run in the best interests of the people. Organisations should not be personalised.” Modibedi also noted that there should also be a fair audit at BOMU. “This should not be a witch-hunt against certain individuals but an investigation into the financial transactions over the last four committees. There have been too many allegations and they should be put to bed,” he said. He added that BOMU was tainted by accusations that people not in the executive are signatories, or that the Union enters into partnerships without the knowledge of members and people clinging to power for ever. Meanwhile, another former BOMU committee member Phempheretlhe Pheto, who is also a recorded gospel artist, conceded that BOMU had been left in tatters because some individuals did not genuinely have the interests of artistes at heart. Pheto also pointed out that things would work well if the constitution is followed. “We would not be dealing with such issues if the organisation’s constitution was followed.” Pheto also said that honorary members who could intervene cannot do so because there is no binding legislation to protect them. “As things stand they can only offer advice; they cannot intervene. But running BOMU should not be about putting friends and pushing personal self-interest agendas but empowering members and boosting the local music industry as a whole.”