Botswana: Musicians Must Behave
Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
EDITORIAL
4 August 2008
Posted to the web 4 August 2008
The behaviour of the Botswana Musicians' Union (BOMU) members during the organisation's annual general meeting at the Gaborone Civic Centre on Thursday was disgusting, to say the least.
Members of the BOMU executive committee resigned en mass, protesting against the shabby manner in which they were treated. The executive committee members resigned because nobody could stand the accusations levelled against them.
There was no order at the meeting especially since some members of the old executive committee defied protocol. Yet when that committee was in power they expected people to give them support.
At some stage blows were nearly exchanged as the musicians hurled insults at one another. It became clear that some members had come to the meeting to settle old scores.
The meeting dragged on for six hours. For the better part of the time people jeered at members of the executive.
Some of the members were not interested in hearing about the progress that the new executive committee had made. In their three months in office, the new BOMU, which resigned, reported that it had made achievements in the secretary general's report.
However, there was a section of the BOMU membership that was hell bent on fighting for positions. During the chaotic Thursday meeting, some disgruntled elements did not conceal their hostility towards the committee.
If any of the BOMU sponsors had attended the Thursday meeting they would have been perturbed at the events that took place.
If the musicians want to be taken seriously, they should behave professionally.
BOMU was formed to cater for the interests of musicians. Local music will suffer if the organisation collapses because of some selfish and power hungry individuals.
As the saying goes, when elephants clash it is the grass that suffers.
When musicians have differences, they must learn to resolve them amicably and in a civilised manner.
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