MZWAKHE’S OPEN LETTER TO GOVT

MBABANE – Enough is enough!

These were sentiments shared by local artist Mzwakhe Myeni, through an open letter he shared with the Entertainment Desk on Monday. In his letter, Myeni, who is also a former member of popular gospel group Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors, was questioning government on the efforts they were doing to ease the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the entertainment sector, as it had been affected a great deal.

His sentiments were that as an artist he was feeling hopeless that the arts and culture ministry would assist them get back on their feet. “For how long are we going to suffer and struggle like this? We have been completely shutdown and are banned from hosting events, which put food for some of us on the table and also sustain our daily lives and the future of our families,” he wrote. The artist further stated that he felt government did not consider artists as human beings and people who had contributed greatly towards the economy of the country as well as supporting the governing system of the country. Myeni also highlighted the value artists put in with the activities that their music was involved in. 

listenership

“Over 75 per cent of the broadcasting material on radio is from our music. A radio station cannot operate without our music and to increase their listenership they play our music. Have you ever thought of radio broadcasting programmes without music?” he pondered. 

He mentioned that since government knew clearly that it was constituted, stipulated and mandated that royalties should be paid to artists for radio and TV broadcast, he wondered where the money was being paid to. Myeni said it was unfortunate that although he benefitted from the South African Music Rights Association, his own country could not do that for its own artists. It is worth noting that since the coronavirus outbreak in March last year, gatherings of more than 100 people were banned, which popular artists thrived on. Through these gatherings Myeni said they paid amounts as high as E45 000 to hire government structures for their events.

including

“We have supported more than one ministry with our events including the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs as well as that of Commerce, Industry  and Trade as events bring visitors to the country, who will support its economy,” he added.  Through a series of intervies with the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture, the Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Dlamini, he advised artists to visit their offices in Manzini with their grievances.

Moreover, Dlamini also urged entertainers to explore other means of making money including digitising their content by using online platforms to reach their fans through performances. 

Meanwhile, the Association of Christian Artists in Eswatini (ACESWA), President Phetsile Masilela, also mentioned during the launch of the Lockdown Eswatini Gospel Music Awards last year, that they had been tirelessly engaging authorities on the issue of royalties, however, time would only tell when those conversations would be fruitful.

It has been a tough period for the music and arts industry in the country. Meanwhile, another association of artists called the Eswatini Music Industry Collective, drafted a letter to the Ministry of Sport, Arts, Culture and Youth Affairs on September 4, 2020. At the time, communications officer in the ministry said it was unfortunate that all sectors had to assits governemnt towards strenghtening the country’s health sector in these tough times. 

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: