WILDLIFE FILM MAKERS AGREE NEW FEES WITH MINISTRY.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has agreed new service fees with the wildlife film sub sector averting what could have been a catastrophic impact on an already challenged sector which has seen a general decline in returns due to competition with other genres. At its final consultation meeting with the tourism and environmental sub sector last Friday, both parties agreed on a general principle to double existing fees and make regular adjustments as necessary. The decision follows similar consultations with the tourism and environmental sub sectors concluded late last month at which both sub sectors also agreed to double the current figures, avoiding a controversial hiking of the fees which the Ministry had initially proposed in a leaked document. Minister Wynter Mmolotsi told the film industry representatives that the increases were guided by inflation adjustments, affordability considerations and revenue mobilisation. Key adjustments, he said, include increases in filming permit fees with citizen film makers protected through differentiated charges. Wildlife and national parks permit fees have also been adjusted to reflect operational costs. Mmolotsi said the adjustments are about strengthening Botswana’s wildlife filming, ensuring sustainability and aligning with international best practices. The fees had caused considerable stir in the film sector when they were first leaked, leading to some international film makers contemplating moving to other countries in the region. Maun based veteran wildlife film maker Brad Bestelink who spoke on behalf of the film makers said the initial fees were alarming, restrictive and were designed to make Botswana uncompetitive regionally. He said the wildlife film industry is currently experiencing a slump with very little commissioning. “Now is not the time to over exaggerate costs to make us out of the regional perspective of doing it.” He said it would have stalled a lot of development in the industry. At the meeting industry players welcomed the Ministry’s stand down to adopt a principle of doubling the fees with specific adjustments as necessary. Aspects of the proposals that the industry objected to include special charges for SADC nationals which the industry players say incentivize competitors from the region. The Ministry is to meet with industry representatives soon to work out the details. According to Ministry officials, the fees are expected to be gazetted some-time in April after they are approved by Cabinet. Officials say the fees will not become effective on April 1st which is the start of the financial year. They will be effective only after gazetting, possible mid-April.
While the fees were unanimously accepted by industry players, the Chairman of the National Arts Council of Botswana Prince Monna raised concern that they had not been properly consulted nor invited to the consultation meeting as the NACB. He said neither the council nor the Arts and Media sector of Business Botswana have been asked for their input on the proposed fees. Monna said issues of this nature could not be concluded without the officially instituted bodies such as the NACB and the Business Council. He said individuals who were invited to the meeting were only a sub sector of the Industry, being the wildlife filming sub sector. He said they could not be considered to have legitimately represented the industry. However, Monna said they are not objecting to the principle of doubling of the fees.
The new proposed fees apply to the protected areas which have been categorized into two types of protected areas. The A group includes, Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park. Category B covers, Nxai-Makgadikgadi National Park, Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Khutse Game Reserve. Proposed filming application charges for citizens is 6,990 (six thousand nine hundred and ninety pula) for SADC citizens and residents, is 34,950 (thirty four thousand nine hundred and fifty pula) and for non-residents its 64,910 (64 thousand nine hundred and ten pula). For category B, the proposed fees are 3,495 (three thousand four hundred and ninety five pula) 17, 475 (seventeen four hundred and seventy five pula) and 34,955 (thirty four thousand nine hundred and fifty five pula) respectively.
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