24 Jul 2022

The implementation of the Reprographic Rights management will see an estimation amount of about P50 Million collected annually from various government and private institutions for the creative industry.

The funds will benefit about 5000 active creatives outside music.

Acting Minister of Trade and Industry, Beauty Manake said this on Thursday during the Reprographic Reproduction Rights Management Seminar by Copyright Society of Botswana (COSBOTS).

“I wish to encourage your members, particularly the youths to be innovative and commercialise their works,”she said.

Manake also said those who stood to benefit should strive to invest in themselves to better their lives.

She said the goal of the seminar was to bring together different users of the reprographic works and sensitise them on its rights.

Manake also said it would sensitise the stakeholders on the matter.

COSBOTS board chairperson Bakalanga Mahoko said the creative industry touched hearts of many, therefore, being paid royalties would help members as well as boost the economy.

However, she said COSBOTS was experiencing challenges such as non-responsiveness of responsible ministries to correspondences regarding licensing.

She also said for many years artistes were taken for granted, therefore.

“I have a book that I have been writing for years, I am not done yet and this shows that it is not a child’s play.

Artistes and song writers also take time to perfect their crafts, therefore they need to be paid,” she said.

On another point she encouraged those in the creative industry to work hard for their crafts.

The two-day workshop attracted government departments and parastatals such as CIPA, who touched on the overview of Botswana Copyright Act as well as lecturers from International Reprographic rights organisations of  Zambia and other participants from neighbouring countries. ENDS