27 May 2018

Botswana’s fourth president, Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama says the creative arts industry in any country has potential to transform and diversify the economy and create employment.

He said there were many areas in the arts and culture sector where people could be gainfully employed adding that government should make a conducive platform for all this to happen.

Having been appointed patron of the national arts and culture in Botswana for his role in promoting the sector during his tenure as president, Lt Gen. Dr Khama met with Tshepiso Molapisi, popularly known as Kast, and his team at Glen Valley junction, which was the last stop for their 2000km campaign walk for the establishment of Botswana Arts Council.

Lt Gen. Dr Khama noted that it should not be too much of a problem for Kast to get support from the new leadership for his initiative for what he hoped to achieve.

“I do know that from the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development’s perspective, they do support the concept of having an arts council in Botswana. I think it is just the modalities on how it should be set up. I think that is something they are working on and I think they will be taking it to Cabinet in the not so distant future,” he said.

For his part, Kast said the 2000km round-the-country journey was to advocate for the formation of a Botswana Arts Council as well as stage another local only, fill-up-the-stadium show in August.

He noted that this latest effort dubbed Tlatsa Lebala Again, was a 2000km relay, which started in Gaborone and took him along with his team to Lobatse, Jwaneng, Ghanzi, Maun, Francistown, Mahalapye, Palapye and back to Gaborone.

“This time, I was not walking alone. We have engaged Botswana artistes and we formed teams to hand over to another from town to town. People should also note that this is my last time walking and Tlatsa Lebala is merely our campaign slogan, which we will continue to use to advocate for various issues besieging our industry. The 2000km walk is to lobby traditional leadership to pass our message to Ntlo ya Dikgosi as well as Parliament to expedite the passing of the Arts Council Act,” Kast said.

He said the formation of an arts council would drastically transform the arts sector in Botswana.

“Let’s come together and lobby for the betterment of our industry. No one but only us can push for the formation of the much-needed arts council that will see a drastic turnaround in our welfare and the fire of our industry,” he said.

The Arts Council Bill has been tabled in Parliament but rejected in the past and Kast said the rejection was due to lack of proper information relayed to Parliament.

Quizzed on various articles, posts on social pages with some people saying he should not profit from Tlatsa Lebala, Kast said people needed to understand that he had to make a living and survive just like everyone else.

“Why should I not benefit from my efforts? For me to exhibit and meet various professional standards and expectations from customers, I need to make money so we put out the best we can so people can enjoy our various talents,” said Kast.

Kast also handed Lt Gen. Dr Khama a document that his team put together on various issues he was advocating for so he could see how best to help them.

The fourth president had always been credited and celebrated in the arts and culture industry in Botswana for his immense contribution.

When he started the President’s Day Arts Competitions in 2008, they grew from 3 274 to close to 19 000 participants last year.

When he spoke last year at the competitions, which were his last as sitting president, he said he would continue to support and promote arts and culture in Botswana post his tenure as president. ENDS