Botswana pins Hollywood hopes on "Detective" film

By Moabi Phia

GABORONE, Botswana (Reuters) - Botswana is pinning its Hollywood hopes on a new film based on the best-selling fiction series "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency."

And in a controversial move, the government has gambled $5 million to promote the southern African country's star power to movie buffs around the globe.

Work on the film, based on Alexander McCall Smith's novels about an intrepid female sleuth, began this month as the first major production hosted by the arid country more famous for diamonds and wildlife than movie-star glamour.

Directed by Anthony Minghella ("Cold Mountain" and "The English Patient"), the movie features U.S. singer Jill Scott in the lead role of Precious Ramotswe -- the owner of a Botswana detective agency.

Singer and actress Anika Noni Rose, who starred in the film "Dreamgirls," will play Ramotswe's secretary, Grace Makutsi.

"The movie has two primary characters. One is Mma Ramotswe and the other is Botswana as a whole. It tries to tell a story of what is wonderful, what is magical, about Botswana and about the rest of Africa," Minghella told Reuters in an interview.

But the magic is missing for some residents of Botswana, who say the government's $5 million offer to underwrite the movie demonstrates a case of misplaced priorities for a country which, despite its mineral riches, remains largely poor.

"What is government trying to do? Where have you seen that being done anywhere else in the world?" fumed one participant in a radio call-in program.

"I think our government has a wrong interpretation of the word tourism."

MARKETING THROUGH MOVIES

Minister of Tourism Kitso Mokaila, whose ministry was responsible for the $5 million film fund, insisted the movie presented "a rare opportunity" for Botswana to market itself as a premier African travel destination.

"People can say what they want. But I can tell you that this decision, taken with the approval of Cabinet, was not a mistake as it will go a long way in ensuring that Botswana and what it can offer in terms of tourism get international recognition," said Mokaila.

Botswana has been struggling to diversify its economy from the over-reliance on diamonds, which currently account for about a third of the country's export earnings.

"We always talk diversification of the economy, and when an opportunity like this avails itself we start pointing fingers," said Mokaila.

Radio talk show host Shombi Ellis -- who has a minor role in the movie -- told Reuters she was disappointed with most of the sentiments aired on her show, where callers repeatedly questioned the wisdom of pumping money into movie-making.