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Botswana: Misa Rejects Govt's Media Bill
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
18 July 2008
Posted to the web 18 July 2008
Tshireletso Motlogelwa
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter has dismissed the new Media Practitioners Bill.
In a statement released yesterday by MISA Batsho secretary Elite Nthoi, the media institution expresses dismay at the Bill's failure to recognise important aspects of journalistic practice, among them, the issue of self-regulation.
MISA says although various sectors of the media fraternity were roped in during the initial consultations, these do not seem to have had any imprint on the final Bill. "Views of several stakeholders were sought and principles were agreed upon that would guide the resulting document", indicates the institute.
"The understanding of the consultation was that the law should provide the framework and the media practitioners would regulate themselves, independent from any political interference, essential in the functioning of a democratic state. The (Bill) as it is, falls short of the principles of independency, political non-interference, promotion of self-regulation and freedom of expression," notes the MISA statement.
It pours cold water on the Bill for granting the Minister of Communication, Science and Technology (Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi) power to appoint both the Complaints Committee and the Appeals Committee members of the envisaged Botswana Press Council, noting that since the minister is further empowered to dissolve the executive committee, "the possible abuse by the minister is not curbed and the committee would therefore exist under the whim and the will of the minister".
Of equal concern to MISA is the requirement that journalists will be registered and accredited, arguing this will impede people's right to free expression.
"The provision may be subjected to abuse as this can be used to limit dissent or alternative views," the statement says. MISA believes the registration and accreditation of journalists will play no role in inculcating professional conduct and ethical standards, arguing: "In terms of section 7(1) the membership of the council consists of publishers both public and private. The journalists are mere employees of the publishers and it suffices that the publishers are members as they are the duty bearer when it comes to enforcement of professional and ethical standards and responsibility for liability.
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It notes that the registration of journalists and threatening them personally would not help improve professional standards, but rather it is the institutional mechanisms that would achieve that goal. MISA rejects the Bill and asks Minister Venson-Moitoi to return to the original principles that were agreed at the beginning of the consultations.
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