11 APPLY FOR RELIEF

MBABANE – Despite calls from SWAMA for artists to apply for a relief fund, only  11 artists have applied so far.

SWAMA stands for Eswatini Arts and Music Association. After much talks and deliberations on how the arts sector has been affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the past year,  the Eswatini Arts and Music Association (SWAMA) announced almost three weeks ago that it was at final stages of securing a relief fund for  the arts sector. This included musicians, artists (craft) and industry personnel at large. President of the Eswatini Arts and Music Association Lutfo Dlamini said the funding would be made available to industry personnel including musicians and artists.

Accessible

Dlamini said the funding would be accessible to all who qualify as only those who can show a loss of income would be assisted monetarily. It is worth noting that a majority of artists were negatively affected financially within the period of last year to date as the sector was non-functional due to the COVID-19 restrictions that barred gatherings. In the past days, event organisers voiced out their frustrations towards government at not being informed nor consulted when it decided to move the country to lockdown level two once more amid the third wave. “We are pleased to announce that government has heard our plight and funding will be made available, similar to the support advanced to other equally affected small businesses in the past. The funding will be accessible to musicians, artists and industry personnel who are affiliated with an association for the year 2021,” said Dlamini. The association’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Zoe Nonde, disclosed that it was not all gloom and doom as there was no deadline set as yet. She said the affected parties still had the opportunity to apply for the relief fund, which would go a long way especially under the prevailing political atmosphere and the COVID-19 third wave.

Encourage

“We would like to encourage artists to carry on applying. All they have to do is e-mail pro@swama.org.sz requesting the form and send it back to the above email upon completion,” she said. Genesis further mentioned that the required documents entailed a national identification number, full names, stage name, any other source of income, association affilated with, a justification of how COVID-19 affected your business, residential address, contact number and an e-mail address.

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