WINDHOEK: The Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) has been functioning without any operational policies for the past 26 years, according to its new Chief Executive Officer, Albert Nicanor. Nicanor, addressing an open day event, expressed his concern over the institution's lack of strategic planning and budgeting processes since its inception, highlighting significant governance and operational challenges.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Nascam, responsible for collecting royalty fees for its 8,064 member artists under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Protection Act, has faced criticism for its operational inefficiencies. The CEO noted the absence of key documents such as strategic plans and annual budgets, leading to unregulated spending within the organization.

The CEO also pointed out irregularities in employment contracts and remunerations, suggesting that some individuals might have altered their contracts to receive unapproved benefits. In response to these challenges, the newly appointed board in April 2022 has decided to discontinue annual bonuses and introduce a performance management system.

Legendary musician Ras Sheehama urged the current leadership to overhaul Nascam's operational processes and establish new systems and policies for the benefit of artists. The organization's role in collecting royalties, particularly important given artists' limited understanding of copyright law, was underscored. Nascam reported collecting N.dollars 2 million in royalties, with payments made to international societies and royalties distributed to only 1,200 members out of its large membership base.