10 Feb 2021

Consequent to her ascendance to Botswana Music Union (BOMU) women’s wing sub-committee as chairperson, Zenzele Hirschfield has promised inclusiveness and transparency in the interest of BOMU female members.

Hirschfield said in an interview that she remained open to advise from other committee members and BOMU stakeholders.

Chief among issues she desired to address are Gender Based Violence (GBV) among women in the music industry, advocating for gender equality and to have a female artiste living with disability, serving in a meaningful position in the committee.

Hirschfield said GBV and other related issues were on the rise with most female artistes being affected.

“Societal perception is that top positions in the music industry suit males best and for females to survive, they need to give out favours either monetary or sexual,” she said.

Hirschfield said some males who held positions of power, used such positions to demand sexual favours before engaging females.

This she said was disturbing and stated that through the committee, she intended to come up with ways of instilling confidence among females and to encourage them to trust their capabilities without compromising themselves.

She also said she intended to build a culture whereby women supported each in order for them to make positive strides in the music industry.

She reckoned women deserved a fair and equal opportunity to serve and represent BOMU structures and committees and also have a say in the industry.

True to her beliefs, Hirschfield said she engaged a female artiste living with disability to be her vice chairperson.

 “Living with disability does not render one incapable. 

We need to give them a chance to excel, this will also give them hope and a sense of belonging. This is why I chose Philadelphia Motladiile,” she said.

Motladiile is a gospel artiste living with albinism and having her as her number two, Hirschfield believes would encourage other artistes living with disability to excel in what they do.

Magdalene ‘Charmagal’ Lesolebe and Rati Saint would serve as additional members.

Hirschfield said the two were hard working and believed in women empowerment. ENDS