Africa-Press – Eswatini. The newly-appointed chairperson of Eswatini Events Managers and Promoters Association (EEMPA), Itallo Dlamini says they are ready to work with all event organisers.
EEMPA is an association with the sole aim of regulating all events in Eswatini. The association was formed in 2021 during the era of COVID-19. It was pioneered with a number of objectives, which included promoting the spirit of mutual co-operation, respect among events managers and promoters, organising training seminars and securing sponsorship.
Dlamini, who is also a renowned Jazz musician, was appointed on November 1, 2023 taking over from Mthunzi ‘Shadow’ Zwane. He said they were currently working on formulating guidelines that would be in line with the industry’s needs, requirements and demands. “We should be in line with the present appetite for entertainment venues while maintaining professionalism in all our dealings. A business approach should be adopted, thus ensuring sustainability and growth in the industry,” he said. He went on to add that they were working towards helping venue owners how best they could monetise their business, while supporting the local art industry. “Every venue should view and position itself as a tourism destination and such a perception will certainly attract a much wider audience, thus bringing the much-needed revenue and cash flow circulating in the country.”
collective
“We need to benchmark with similar associations and tailor our requirements to suit our needs. As an association, we can never achieve this alone. A collective participation from all event organisers with a very clear business approach, irrespective of their affiliation is the only cocktail and recipe for success,” he added. The previous team which included a seasoned choral music conductor Mathokoza Sibiya, who was the Secretary of the association; ensured that the coalition advised government through the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) on issues of events and the industry. During the era of COVID-19, event organisers could not host any event without informing the association and there were legal actions taken against those who did not have certificates when hosting events. All the precautions were followed to ensure the safety of patrons.
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