Confusion about media legislation abound

26 February, 2009 in Botswana

source: BOPA
24 February, 2009

GABORONE – Government says an appeal by some freedom of expression organisations that appeared in newspapers recently, for President Seretse Khama Ian Khama to reconsider the Media Practitioners Act reflects misunderstandings of the legislation. Dr Jeff Ramsay, Co-ordinator of the Botswana Government Communications and Information System (BGCIS), says the government disagrees with the letter’s assertion that the Act is ‘a threat to the rights, free operations and existence of the media in Botswana’.

It also takes exception to the statement that the ‘media council will in fact be appointed by the minister without any stated criteria of media practitioners and organisations, which have been relegated to membership and associate membership roles’.

Dr Ramsay says the statements show a misunderstanding of the nature of the council and the role of its membership. He says the Act clearly states that: ‘The Council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession, capable of suing and being sued”.

Also, ‘the council shall operate without any political or other bias or interference, and shall be wholly independent and separate from government, any political party or any other body’.

Dr Ramsay says the governing body of the council will be the executive committee, consisting of [continue reading]

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