DUMA FM ROARS

All is not well at Duma FM As three more bite the dust
By Voice Reporter

Duma FM’s station manager Alfred Busang has refuted allegations that the country’s youngest private owned radio station is under financial and political interference strain.
For the past six months eyebrows have been raised as top personnel left the station. To crown it all, this past week two Morning show presenters and a Programmes manager were served with identical ‘dismissal’ letters.
Barely three months into their probation period at Duma FM, morning presenters Moses Maruping and Kevin Thipe have, together with Programmes Manager Gabriel Rasengwatshe, been served with letters terminating their employment.
Worse still, the trio was head hunted for the jobs at the radio station and promised lucrative benefits as well as two-year contracts by Duma FM Consultant Robin Chivazve.
In an interview with The Voice, the trio spoke of the pain of arriving charged to work on Friday only to be told after their show that it would be their last.
Angry and shocked, the trio told The Voice that the dismissal was unfair especially since management never complained of under-performance. They were issued with the curt dismissal letters last Friday after their show and were not even given the chance to interact with their listeners.
The mandatory 14-day notice given is seen by the aggrieved threesome as a ploy not to pay them their due termination benefits. The notice, which started on May 14, ends in May 28, conveniently depriving the injured employees a full month’s notice pay for June.
In fact, not only have they been dumped by Duma FM but may leave with their May salary only. This is why, they see this as an “unfair dismissal’ which is vindictive and malicious.
“I was head-hunted by Robin because of my radio and electronic media background. He verbally told me I would be given a two-year contract. No probation was mentioned and for the two months at the station, there has never been a single complaint about my performance,” said a shaken Thipe aka Keppie.
Moses ‘Rudeboy Necta’ Marupingechoed his sentiments. “We were told by Robin that the decision for ending our employment was not personal but purely business. How come they don’t have the audacity to tell us what we did wrong?” asks Maruping.
Duma Fm’s former Programmes Manager, Rasengwatshe, smells a rat around their dismissal even though he can’t put his finger on it. But the trio won’t leave any stone unturned to uncover why the radio station has treated them so inhumanely.
They could not confirm that their dismissal was centered around live discussions they had involving the newly formed splinter party, Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) during the week of the World Press Day.
Robin Chivazve, the man at the centre of the controversy, could not be drawn to comment and referred The Voice to station manager, Alfred Busang. He however spoke on the issue of malice, saying, “Being vindictive is one of the words that have been used to describe me before. But I won’t comment on this issue as that is the job of the station manager.”
Duma FM management on Wednesday denied any political involvement and claimed the station did not have any financial problems.
In an interesting twist, the station’s Director Seyed Abolsadzl Jamal denied any knowledge of any dismissals and referred The Voice enquiries to the station manager, Busang
When asked if the station’s ambitious quest to reformat and get a new facelift may have affected their coffers, Busang said the station was self-sustainable. “We are generating sufficient revenue and we are far from bankruptcy. All this political and financial insinuation is just a ploy to create unnecessary hype,” he said.
Busang said the employees were on probation and did not meet the station’s requirements.
“They were not fired, I’d rather say they were not confirmed for their positions. There was nothing political about the whole thing because if there was, we would not have allowed them to host politicians in the last debate and allow callers to air their opinions.
“We are an independent radio station and there is no way we can be intimidated by political influence,” he said.
The latest dismissals follow the mass exodus of some of the country’s best talent from the station since late last year including the likes of Miso Mmereki, Michael ‘Dignash’ Morapedi,Pako Matlhare and Thato Selelo and Thabo Osekeng.
In March this year, Duma FM was before the industrial court and the station was ordered to pay February wages to two former marketing employees who were dismissed on February 24.
Making a ruling on the case, Judge de Villiers ordered Duma FM to pay the aggrieved women, Botho Mazebedi and Tlotlo Ramapatla within two days and further advised the pair to take their case for compensation of loss of employment for arbitration at a later date.

Duma fm gives shows to uninitiated

BY MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE

Duma FM announced its much-awaited new line-up for the year with two uninitiated personalities thrown right into the deep end to steer the morning and afternoon drive shows.
They are former Voice news editor and entertainment man, Rude Boy Necta and Cathy Malejane, from Solomon Monyane's Mudhut studios. Steez, a former Botswana Television (Btv) presenter and Duma FM afternoon drive man, has been sidelined.
Steez, has been anchoring the afternoon drive time in the absence of Dignash who quit the station unceremoniously towards the end of last year, although there were rumours the comedian might be back at Duma FM as part of the new look line-up.
However, it remains to be seen whether the two prime time presenters, still wet behind their ears in as far as radio presenting is concerned, would have any effect at Duma. In her afternoon drive show, Malejane will be up againstKgosi and Miss B at Yarona FM, as well as Simba at Gabz FM, and the impeccable DJ Sly at RB2. Rude Boy faces a daunting task to match Tummie Ramsden at Yarona, and Jazelle, Mike Olivier, at Gabz FM.
Beside the announcement of the two novices, Duma FM there were no further surprises though there was talk that RB2's DJ Sly, Yarona FM's Tummie Ramsden, and Dignash would all be the highlights of the new look Duma FM line-up. In a recent interview Alfred Busang, the Duma Station Manager told Showbiz that Dignash could return when they announce their new look line-up.
Announcing the team, Busang said the new format boasts a unique blend of talk and music. " The all new Duma FM programming format has been carefully formulated to allow us to place utmost priority on delivery of good music, and equal precedence on stimulating relevant talk based content...We guarantee that ... no radio station in the country will deliver a better mix of intelligent talk and fantastic music," he said at the Botswana Craft on Friday night at a concert dubbed Di a Duma, meant to launch the new look Duma FM programming.

A MONTH INTO THE JOB

By MODIRI MOGENDE

Wednesday, 14 April 2010

In March, deputy editor of The Voice newspaper and entertainment commentator, Moses Maruping, who is best known as ‘Rude Boy Necta’ quit the newsroom amid much fanfare only to resurface live on air as the new co-host of Duma FM’s breakfast show, The Crossover.
A month into his new job we caught up with him to get a précis of how the airwaves have been treating him after 10 plus years of cutting his teeth in print. “I’ve noticed that there is a pretty thin line between radio and print, just that radio has a bit more pressure due to the live element which obviously forces one to be on their toes all the time.” said Moruping.
On his departure from an industry he had seemingly conquered, Rude Boy said that in his view the time had come for him both personally and career-wise to move on after he was approached by the station to put on dual caps as a News Editor and a host.
“The Crossover is an ambitious breakfast show with a lively feel, a lot of sports and news.” Rude Boy said of his breakfast show, which he co-hosts with former Yarona Fm presenter Kevin Thipe, also known as Keppie. He says their main objective is to feature new material and in some way revolutionise breakfast as a male duo.
Though the show is relatively new they have garnered some much needed loyal listeners even though the station has gotten some unpleasant publicity due to their newly installed rebrand and departure of some of their key presenters.
Rude Boy’s cut edge journalism in entertainment nearly became his own Achilles heel as it created excessive hype about his arrival on the air. As he lays testament, a lot of the listeners expected him to have the same vigour in his voice, some later accused him of having a soft approach to issues that they discuss on air.
“Well, it did put me under pressure but just like everything new one has to crawl before they walk, in a short space of time I will have gained a lot of confidence and I promise people will be blown away,” Rude Boy asserted.
Maruping says he looks forward to taking on his competitors from other radio stations and sent them a firm warning: “Those who have been in radio for a long time had better watch out.”

CHURCH RELEASES CD IN HONOUR OF PERISHED TRIO

It’s been a year since church members belonging to the St. John’s Apostolic Faith Mission church in Metsimotlhabe reeled in shock after three of their church elders died tragically.
The three church elders – Reverend Leonard Barakanye, Noko Letsweletse and Maila Moilwa - drowned in the Gaborone Dam during a baptismal service on November 29, 2009.
The 60-year-old Barakanye was the pastor who opened the Metsimotlhabe branch in 2000. He had moved to Metsimotlhabe from Orapa while Moilwa and Letsweletse, who were deacons, hailed from Seleka and Shoshong respectively.
At the time of their death the trio was described by colleagues as devout Christians.
A year down the line, the trio’s memories continue to linger among the devout church members who will on Saturday hold a memorial service in honour of the perished trio.
According to Lorato Barakanye, who is the daughter to the perished founding pastor; they as the church choir looked at various ways of how they could extend the legacy of those who died tragically during last year’s baptismal service.
“It was after a few meetings that the church resolved that the best way to honour my father and the two other deceased was through a musical offering as they both loved church hymns,” she says showing me an 11-track musical CD dubbed “Tribute.”
The 30-year-old mother of one says the album is a collective effort of the St. John’s Apostolic Faith Mission church choir adding that the money raised from the album sales will be channeled towards finishing the existing ‘house of worship’ structure as well as building a swimming pool for the church.
Quizzed about the swimming pool, Lorato noted that it is high time spiritual churches desist from carrying out baptismal services at unsafe rivers and dams noting that a swimming pool within the church is the safest.
“Mind you, this was not the first time church members drowned during a baptismal session. There have been similar incidents in the past in places like Thamaga. What we’re doing is simply taking heed of government officials’ that churches should build swimming pools for baptizing purposes.”
She says, as a church choir from now on they will accept invitations from other churches who are raising funds through concerts.
“All this is not new to us. We have done concerts in the past to help raise funds for the blind. Those wanting to join us for this weekend’s memorial service are welcome,” she says with sorrow written all over her face.

A FEW MINUTES WITH NOZIE-THE GO-GETTER

She is young and has accomplished what most can only dream about.
Nozie McVey was a chief executive officer at 18 where she ran her own travel and tourism company dubbed Youth Travel Tours (YTT).

After a solid six years in the trade she closed shop and ventured into yet another virgin territory where she started a business called Nozie Entertainment, an establishment which managed some of the country’s most accomplished artists.

Ten years down the line, word recently got to me that the petite 28-year-old has established Nozie Chic; a jewellery making enterprise based in the leafy surburb of Phakalane.

Being a typical newshound always wanting to break the news to the dynamic masses, I make a few calls around the city and bingo; I’m already connected to the hard-working young lady with the octopus’ hands.

Our meeting takes places at the ever-busy Café Portugal in Game City mall where the hustle and bustle of people going past the restaurant punctuates our chat.

In between calculated sips of our ice-cold sodas, Nozie takes me on an interesting trip down the ten years memory lane; an era when she braved all odds to become one of the country’s youngest entrepreneurs.

“I have always wanted to be self-employed. The idea of making my own money motivated me. I also wanted to be independent. However, at that time there were not many young people running their own businesses and many people told me I was mad,” she says.

There are signs of despair in her eyes as she tells the sad story that is common to many young people in Botswana.

She never got any funding for her business venture.

“I know what it’s like to have a door shut on your face. When I was running YTT, I had many challenges and after six years in the business I called it quits. I needed to try something new…and I had a few people who mentored me…always telling me to keep my head above the water,” she says.

Whilst trying to find the right footing an opportunity presented itself through a trip to the United States of America (USA) courtesy of the US Embassy.

This is where Nozie met her husband and the two were officially married on the beach in San Francisco.

“I was over the moon with joy. Being married on the beach has always been my dream and it did come true,” she says with a glint in her eye.

Next year February the couple celebrates three years of holy matrimony.

Lest we get carried away with the emotional marriage roller-coaster, I change the topic fast.

Back to her latest business venture.

After the YTT dream fell apart, she launched her own artists management company; Nozie Entertainment where she took care of seasoned crooners such as Kgotla and Skazzo.

Wanting a bigger challenge, Nozie then swayed the company into a different direction and she now supplies Botswana Television (BTV) with international programming.

She interrupts me just as I’m about to ask her to expand on this subject.

“This is a company which continues to grow thanks to the generous support of my husband. It is the one which made it easy for me to set up my latest jewellery business.”

Nozie says a lot of people misunderstand her, but adds that she cannot please everyone.

“I regret those years that I worked hard trying to please everyone in life. I no longer do that. It’s either you accept me the way I am or not.”
She goes for her bag and out comes three exquisite designs in the form of two hand-crafted necklaces and a pair of earrings.
“This is what keeps me sane nowadays. Mind you, I have always wanted to be in the fashion industry and when an opportunity presented itself in the form of a TV advertisement promoting jewellery beading I jumped at it,” she says with a chuckle in her smile.
“I bought the beading kit and did a few practices at home. After a few weeks I searched the internet and I came across a three-day jewellery beading course in South Africa which I wasted no time and attended.”
Right now, she is a happy woman as her pieces are already causing a roaring wave in most curio shops in Maun.
Another plus for her is the fact that all this hard work is made possible by her supportive husband who continues to dig further into his pocket for the venture to gain momentum.
Quizzed about her prices, Nozie says the pieces retail from as little as P400-P1000.
“My pieces include bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings. However rings are only made through orders so that it varies from person to person. The rings are more personalized,” she says stretching out her left hand for me to admire the one wrapped around her finger.
Nozie says she draws inspiration from Mother Nature and at times a simple walk in the garden offers her an idea for a splendid product. Her products are hand-made, natural and can only be found in Botswana.
Nozie says so far the future does look bright as she already has orders until March next year mostly from the shops in the delta.
“While many people will be resting this festive season I’ll be working my butt off to meet my customers’ demands.”
However all is not glory due to a few challenges she comes across in her business.
The number one challenge Nozie explains is the sourcing of silver; her number one material in her jewellery pieces, from South Africa. She says normally it takes about a week for her orders to arrive.
Although most of her time is devoted towards giving the Botswana fashion industry something to shine about, Nozie also finds time to work with award-winning Hip-Hop artist; Zeus to launch the gifted musician’s clothing range dubbed ‘The Zeus Exclusive Collection.’
“The clothing line will certainly have a little bit of Zeus personality in it. We envisage launching it during the first quarter of 2011. Please look out for it and support yet another ‘Made in Botswana’ product,” she says.
Quizzed about where she sees herself in the next five years, the petite beauty says her life is unpredictable.
“Had you told me where I will be right now a few years ago, I would have told you are mad. I’m one person who likes to break the rules and I always like to think out of the box. Simply put; I like to be different.”
On the lessons learnt over the past ten years, Nozie explains that although it’s been a bumpy ride, she has learnt to be creative and to create her own opportunities against all odds.
“At one point I lost my confidence but right now I can confidently reveal I have managed to regain all of it. Let me advice aspiring entrepreneurs that you shouldn’t always take people’s advice but learn to listen to your intuition as well. Never listen to anyone saying your dreams are impossible but rather work hard at fulfilling them,” she says with a wide smile revealing a row of sparkling white teeth.