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He said he could not understand why the government claims to encourage entrepreneurship and empowerment when the government competes unfairly with the private media. He said the unequal playing field resulting from unfair competition hinders citizen empowerment. He further said government broadcasters do not require a licence to operate while that is not the case with private entities. Monyame said once granted, often times the licence has requirements that limit the scope of the private practitioner. Furthermore, he claimed, the closure of Mokgosi is a result of unfair competition from government. Publisher of The Botswana Gazette, Clara Olsen said that the requirements for operation of the private and government media differ hence the unfair competition that exists. The private media houses operate under the Companies Act and are expected to pay company tax and value added tax (VAT). They should be profitable to operate and have to pay operating tax, while the government media is not subjet to those conditions of operation. "They are a law unto themselves, not accountable for losses and their advertising rates are not related to profitability," she said. Olsen said the government has gone to the extent of instructing its departments to stop advertising in the private media. Olsen did not spare the government for the numerous laws that threaten freedom of expression; some still in the pipeline and others in operation. "We have long advocated for the abolition of the Cinematograph Act but it still exists. The Act has no sense as it states that anyone who takes pictures should first seek permission from the Office of the President," said Olsen. The exclusion of the private media on the incentive schemes like FAP, CEDA have not escaped her wrath. Olsen fears that if the government media alone expands, people would be fed with propaganda. The government's unfair competition has been viewed as a constructive destruction of the private media by the Director of MISA-Botswana, Modise Maphanyane. He urged media houses to take the government to court, as it does not have the legal basis for existence. "They do not have the parliamentary Act that stipulates its guidelines," said Maphanyane. He said the government media operates in a vacuum and in most cases they do so with impunity. Maphanyane said the government should focus on information dissemination and not advertising. Sunday Standard Deputy editor, Spencer Mogapi differed with his colleagues, he alluded to the thought that the private media are cry-babies and that their lobby is self-serving. "This is not the only sector which government participates in, yet other parties are not complaining," he said. He cited the competition between Botswana Telecoms and private cellular companies. He also pointed out the Botswana Housing Corporation and private estate developers who are not complaining. "Who will take us seriously if we serve our interests? Why don't we make the debate general?" he asked. Mogapi said the Botswana media is dominated by foreigners, hence the need for the government to compete as well. He called on private media to improve the quality of their products so as to attract investors. Private media was also cautioned from viewing the Daily News as an enemy. Sunday Standard editor, Outsa Mokone supported Mogapi saying the government has the responsibility to meet the needs of its citizenry and not the wants. "Do you expect the government to sponsor newspapers so that you see page three? That's a want not a need," he said.
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