Editor,This is in reaction to the article, "Salax Awards organisers warn ‘rebel’ musicians,” (The New Times, January 24, 2013).This (admonishing of musicians) is truly pathetic. Why do the Salax Awards organisers think artistes/performers must be compelled to participate in each and every competition they sponsor, even if those artistes do not consider, for whatever reason, that their participation is in their best interest? The organisers’ attitude reflects the basic mind-set which leads to dictatorship and tyranny. Performers/artistes are not slaves. They should be free to allow their names to be put forward for competitions or withhold such permission without those organisers proffering threats of retaliation should such permission not be forthcoming. The kind of threats thrown about by the event organisers reflect more negatively on them than on the artistes they think they are threatening. And lest I be misunderstood, my position is based solely on principle; I have no dog in this fight. I do not follow the local music scene and know very little about the withdrawing performers. Mwene Kalinda