Botswana media bill raises concerns
On Friday 30 November 2001, the Botswana government published the contents of a draft Mass Media Communications Bill in the government gazette. MISA Botswana reports that local press groups, worried that the media bill proposed by the government would restrict free and independent reporting, have called for a public meeting to air their concerns and hear the public's perspective. The meeting will take place on 13 December.
FEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT UPDATE - BOTSWANA
5 December 2001
Botswana media bill raises concerns
SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek
**Updates IFEX alert of 4 December 2001**
(MISA/IFEX) - On Friday 30 November 2001, the Botswana government published
the contents of a draft Mass Media Communications Bill in the government
gazette. According to MISA-Botswana, the draft is almost an exact match of
another bill which the local media successfully crushed in 1997, aside from
a number of omissions on broadcasting issues.
MISA-Botswana reports that local press groups, worried that the media bill
proposed by the government would restrict free and independent reporting,
have called for a public meeting to air their concerns and hear the public's
perspective. The meeting will take place on 13 December.
The bill, if passed by parliament, would set up a government-appointed Press
Council and require newspapers and local and foreign journalists to register
before they can report in Botswana. Also under the bill, senior police
officers would have the power to seize any publication. The Press Council -
its chair and vice-chair, appointed by the government - would adjudicate on
complaints and maintain professional standards. Erring journalists could
face up to three years in jail or a hefty fine. Any new newspapers would
have to be eight percent-owned by the citizens of Botswana.
According to Reuters' reports, on Saturday 1 December, Botswana President
Festus Mogae said that the government was not trying to control the press
through the bill.
For further information, contact Zoe Titus or Kaitira Kandjii, Regional
Information Coordinator, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street,
Mailing Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232975,
fax: +264 61 248016, e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected],
Internet: http://www.misa.org/
The information contained in this alert update is the sole responsibility of
MISA. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
MISA.
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