USED AND DUMPED
Local models decry exploitation by fashion show organisers Batho Fashion Week was huge but never paid us a penny Models charged audition fees that never breed results
Local models have been left in the lurch and decry non-payment from Batho Fashion Week organisers after rendering their services at their show held in Kasane two months ago.
About 20 young ladies approached The Midweek Sun newspaper last week Thursday, to express frustration and disappointment with the brand owner of Batho Fashion Week, Emmanuel Kanyenda whom they accuse of luring them to Kasane for a show that ran from August 10 to 13, but never paid them a penny.
The young and vibrant models said they never hesitated to apply for the opportunity after seeing the advertisement of the show in July and they were guaranteed that they would be paid a week after their return from Kasane. They cry that to reach Kasane they had spent their own money and expended their other resources, confident that rewards lay ahead as they were given assurances of payment. The models took turns to narrate their frustrations, saying the mention of big name sponsors for the event, coupled with the Tourism Minister Phildah Kereng officiating at the event, made them doubt nothing about the show and the promises made. For fear of victimisation by industry players, they asked to speak anonymously, with one of them revealing that they learnt never to expect gold in anything that glitters on the outside. “The branding was so excellent and told of a professional entity that we did not anticipate a situation where they would be failing to pay us after participating in the fashion show,” the frustrated lady said, . The distressed models, majority of them tertiary students, said a week after they returned from the trip, only three of them were paid the agreed amount of P3 000 each, while others were told that there are no funds to pay them.
They also say they financed their trip to Kasane, with 30 of them paying a P680 fee as stated on the contract. “It was really disappointing for the organiser to pay only three of us and say he will continue with other payments next year. We are frustrated because people who are supposed to empower us and to grow the modelling industry are the ones exploiting us!” another model cried.
The ramp queens lamented that the industry is already not taken seriously locally, and they are too afraid to air their grievances fearing being deprived opportunities and being victimised. “Exploitation of models in Botswana is very rife as bigger brands take advantage of our talents to boost their businesses and never bother to pay,” said one model, who even voluntarily showed her contract letters to The Midweek Sun. Other models revealed that they have since approached lawyers to intervene in order to get paid their dues as stipulated on the contract. The Batho Fashion Week event in Kasane was huge, and it attracted people from neighbouring countries such as Namibia, Zambia and South Africa. It was sponsored by companies such as Coca cola, Air Botswana, Travel Lodge, LEA and Botswana Tourism among others.
Local poet and entrepreneur, Keotshephile Monageng, affectionately known as Berry Heart, concurs that models are exploited in Botswana, with the desperate young men and women often made to pay audition charges before they can be
engaged in fashion shows that also pay nothing.
“Modelling industry in Botswana is at par or below Namola Leuba (poverty eradication programme). Why do you then charge kids P200 for auditions? This daylight robbery must really stop! We only know the most exploited and zero paid artists in this country are models,” she said.
Batho Fashion Week Brand Director, Emmanuel Kanyenda who is also an international model, confirmed that his company was yet to pay the models, but refuted allegations that his intention was to exploit them or refuse to pay them. “We also paid other service providers 50 percent, and it is unfortunate that the models were never paid. There were 30 of them, but I assured them that we will include their payment in next year’s budget,” he said. Kanyenda revealed that they ran out of funds, as other sponsors did not come through.