The golden era of open-air music festivals and the vibrant nightclub scene, once a haven for patrons seeking to unwind and celebrate youth, is teetering on the edge of a profound transformation, if not outright collapse.
This stark warning comes from music promoters and nightclub operators, who spoke candidly with this publication following recent moves by the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship (MTE) to tighten alcohol regulations.
On Monday, the Ministry circulated a survey to assess the effects of its new festive season alcohol policy, signaling serious consideration of its continuation. The policy, commonly known as ‘six to six,’ permits liquor outlets to operate from 10 a.m. until 6 a.m., igniting fierce opposition from nightclub owners and event promoters who argue it threatens their livelihoods.
The core of the dispute lies in the policy’s unintended consequence: bars, now able to serve patrons for longer hours, are drawing large crowds away from nightclubs and music festivals. This shift, critics say, undermines the viability of venues that rely on peak evening and late-night attendance.
Dlamini Thebe, proprietor of the Gaabo-Motho Music Festival (GMMF), expressed his frustration in an interview. He accused MTE and Minister Tiroeaone Ntsima of deliberately undermining the entertainment and nightclub industries. “They should just close us down because they have already closed it down,” Thebe said, his tone heavy with exasperation.
Attempts by showbusiness and nightclub operators to engage with Minister Ntsima have so far gone unanswered. Despite writing two letters requesting dialogue, no meeting has been arranged.
The financial toll has been severe. Thebe disclosed that GMMF suffered losses approaching P500,000. He attributes much of this failure to the Ministry’s timing—announcing a December-specific alcohol policy just two days before the festive music festival season, discouraging patrons from attending.
“Just imagine how many people we hired,” he said. “Usually, Batswana buy tickets at the last minute, but this year, the mood was so bleak, attendance plummeted, and now we’re drowning in debt.”
Thebe occupies a rare dual role in Botswana’s entertainment scene, as both an event promoter and owner of Dladleng Entertainment Center, a cutting-edge nightclub in Moshupa. He revealed that his venue suffered massive losses, forcing a complete shutdown throughout the festive period as patrons flocked to bars instead.
“We opened for a single day and served no clients. We chose to close at a loss,” he recounted. “We only managed to pay our nightclub staff around January 10th, and it’s likely some of them will soon be seeking work elsewhere.”
Despite the setbacks, Thebe remains committed to dialogue and negotiation with the Ministry, though he acknowledges the government’s firm stance on its policy direction.
He questioned the rationale behind the government’s approach. “The current ‘six to six’ policy operates in a linear way, giving liquor outlets a share of the market pie, from bottle stores to bars, and finally nightclubs serving patrons afterward. It’s hard to understand their drift,” he said.
Thebe warned that this policy could spell disaster for the entire music industry. Artists earn significant income from nightclub performances and festivals, yet are legally prohibited from performing in bars.
Similarly, Abel Thomas, owner of B6 Nightclub in Moschudi, reported losses of about P50,000 over the holiday period. He said he was forced to open and close within two days to stem mounting losses from energy costs and even returned stock to avoid penalties. Thomas now serves as a liaison between nightclub operators and MTE.
On Monday, Thomas submitted an agenda for a proposed meeting with Minister Ntsima aimed at mitigating the policy’s impact. The agenda includes discussions on the financial and socio-economic consequences of ‘six to six’ and potential remedies.
“We’re looking at this from all sides,” Thomas said. “In major villages, 70% of bars border residential areas, contributing to social disturbances under the ‘six to six’ framework.”
He also highlighted a troubling social dynamic: underage children evade parental supervision to loiter around bars, something less likely in nightclubs due to stricter entry controls. “I’ve already encountered these situations firsthand,” he added.
As the government weighs its next moves, the future of Botswana’s music festivals and nightlife hangs in a precarious balance, with livelihoods and cultural vibrancy at stake.