Gospel artists caucus over lustful colleague

MBABANE – Local gospel artists feel ACASWA is downplaying the issue of the artist who sexually molested a 14-year old girl.

ACASWA is the Association of Christian Artists in Swaziland and its President is Mzwakhe Myeni who is also a gospel artist by his own right.

This is the general feeling amongst local gospel artists and this has been discussed by some of the top gospel artists in Swaziland.

The artists got together to deliberate on the issue in what was a caucus held on Friday where artists including Mduduzi Simelane, Frans Dlamini, Nhlanhla Mbingo and Reverend Vusi Gumedze, to mention a few, were present.

During this informal gathering, the artists agreed that ACASWA was not doing enough to get to the bottom of the issue as the office has remained mum on the matter and what it is doing about it.

The artists are not pushing for the name of the implicated artist to be publicised but they do want ACASWA to find the artist and engage him on the matter.

The meeting was not formal and ACASWA was not a part of it but the artists suggested that they engage the Association in talks over the issue if the office would not react with urgency.

This was confirmed by some of the artists who were present during the caucus.

Mduduzi Simelane of top local gospel group ‘Mduduzi Nezinceku Zamagawugawu’ said: "What we want to see is the Association doing something about this issue and treating it with the seriousness in deserves. We want ACASWA to talk about the issue and also get the artist so that he is advised as well as brought to book. For now the office is doing nothing and that worries us."

Local gospel artist Nhlanhla Mbingo also shared the same sentiments: "We expected ACASWA to release a statement on the issue and what the office is doing about it but it has been a week since the matter was publicised but ACASWA is yet to react. The matter has not been handled well by the association and we want that to change. We want to know what they are doing about the matter."

Mbingo also revealed that they had called the office over the issue even though they could not get hold of the President Mzwakhe Myeni who was out of the country, he managed to get hold of Vice Chairman and also PRO Thokozani Mdluli who said the association would soon call a meeting where the issue would be discussed.

This is not the first time that gospel artists said they want to see urgent action from ACASWA on the matter and find the implicated artist as Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors leader, Timothy Myeni also told this newspaper that ACASWA should find the artist and deal with him.

Meanwhile, the ACASWA president has not been forthcoming with a statement he said would soon be released concerning this matter.

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