The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) demands answers on the envisioned National Arts Council of Botswana. The Arts Council was supposed to be fully functional by July this year according to what Rakgare announced five (5) months ago (March).
At the time when Rakgare promised the creative industry the Arts Council, almost four months was left for the deadline which he set himself to elapse. The four months has elapsed and we are now in the fiveth month, and still there is no mention of the Arts Council.
According to the UDC, the Arts Council will not be operational anytime soon as “the July date was yet another BDP government tale of broken promises.”
“While the delay in establishing the Arts Council continues, the creative sector, so much neglected under President Masisi’s administration, continues to wallow in dre straits. This sector has been the hardest hit by COVID-19 and government has no plans to help revive it as illustrated by its failure to operationalize the Arts Council. There are instances when, in a desperate zeal to endear themselves to the nation, the President and his Ministers make wild pronouncements. This playing to the gallery as it the case here with Hon, Rakgare is common occurrence. The fact of the matter’s that the BDP government Is allergic to the truth” the UDC Head of Communications, Moeti Mohwasa lambasted.
To directly quote Honorable Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development- Tumiso Rakgare’s words, he said;
“Furthermore, we have had meetings, and engagements with various creative industry stakeholders countrywide from 2019to date. It gives me great pleasure to announce that we are on the right track in regards to the National Arts Council of Botswana. The National Arts Council of Botswana is expected to be fully functional by July 2021, and we hope that it will address your concerns as artists, djs, music promoters, and everybody with interests in these our sectors. And I can assure you, I verily say to you that if the Arts Council do not start by July, I will join you in protest for me to be removed and replaced by a different minister. I’m going to join you, because we fought hard for this thing, we fought hard for the establishment of the National Arts Council of Botswana. And let me tell you something, I will be joining Vee, and PP, that time we will not be going to Old Naledi, but Mogoditshane. So that I get removed from the ministry then get removed as a Member of Parliament in 2024.”
The Minister was speaking during the official opening of Botswana International Music Conference (BIMC) official opening in March.
