Call for better work environment for media workers
Staff Writer | Tuesday May 9, 2023 06:00
These messages were shared at another MISA Botswana Chapter celebration of this year's World Press Freedom Day over the weekend.
This year, the commemoration was held under the theme, “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All Other Human Rights”.
On Saturday the day began with a colourful commemoration march from the GSS Grounds to the host venue Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. Scores of media workers, journalists, photographers, advertising personnel, support staff and media allies joined the walk under the cloudy weather. The official event was held at the university hall with Acting President Slumber Tsogwane as the guest speaker.
Speaking at the event, MISA Botswana Board chairperson, Thomas Nkhoma highlighted that for Botswana even before the advancement of modern-day democracy, typical traditional society has always been premised on freedom of speech where individuals could state their views without fear. According to MISA Botswana freedom of speech, which is concomitant to a free press, was encapsulated in the maxim “Mmualebe o bua la gagwe”, meaning every person has the right to his or her own opinion.
However, the MISA Botswana board chair is displeased with the working conditions of local media workers. Nkhoma said he has noted with concern the low wages and skeletal newsrooms in most media houses creating high workloads for media workers, especially journalists. This is most evident in the private media space, he said. “I want to encourage employers to find creative ways of multiplying their revenue sources so that workers in their companies who are at high risk such as journalists are well remunerated.
This will also do away with the issue of the brown envelope, an enemy to the noble profession of journalism. MISA Botswana calls on the media workers’ unions as well to consider speeding up efforts of engaging employers to better the welfare of journalists,” he said. The MISA Botswana board chair also called for reforms in the law that affect journalists’ day to day work.
“Whilst journalists and media houses in Botswana still have to navigate a wide range of landmines that inhibit freedom of expression such as the Whistle Blowers Act, the law on Assets Declaration, Sedition, amongst others, it is, however, encouraging to note that recent media law reforms have received a positive response from the media fraternity. However, it is MISA Botswana’s view that further reforms and improvements are needed to strengthen the environment for press freedom and to ensure that all media in the country can operate free of political, business, and government interference.” He continued: “MISA Botswana calls on government to ensure that necessary steps are taken to foster fair market conditions for private media as it has been done with other sectors such as the construction sector.
“This includes changing the government policy on public procurements thresholds which over the years have proved to be a hindrance to the growth of the media as a sector.” This view is also shared by the newly elected Editors Forum chairperson, Emang Bokhutlo Mutapati who calls for reform on law-limited journalist work. Bokhutlo Mutapati highlighted that vexatious lawsuits against media in the form of SLAPPs are on the rise and proving to be a serious threat and worsening the private media’s already precarious financial situation with punitive damages awarded by the courts. “We, therefore, like to take this opportunity to encourage government to shore up several weaknesses and gaps in the legal framework protecting press freedom in Botswana by making several regulatory and policy reforms,” she said.
As a result, the Editors Forum called for government to amongst others introduce the long overdue laws on Freedom of Information to ensure the right to access information held by public authorities to allow media to play the watchdog role effectively. “Introduction of whistleblower laws to provide legislative support for those who expose and report corruption in either the private sector or the government.
Reforming criminal laws restricting press freedom by bringing. Botswana’s criminal laws are in line with international standards on freedom of expression and ensure that journalists do not face criminal prosecution for their work.
This includes repealing provisions in the Penal Code, such as provisions on defamation and sedition that can be used to unduly restrict freedom of expression and the press, in line with international human rights commitments and frameworks and doing away with criminal defamation,” she said. The Editors Forum also advised local mobile service providers and advertising agencies to be mandated to provide at least two percent of their revenue for media development and capacity building to provide resources to support the work of independent institutions like the Press Council of Botswana, MISA Botswana and media workers Union.
For his part, president of the Botswana Media Allied Workers Union, Phillimon Mmeso also implored editors to improve reporters’ low wages saying that these would deter brown envelope journalism. Tsogwane, who was the guest speaker, highlighted government’s continued efforts to support the media, both public and private. The Acting President alluded that the National Vision 2036 states that Botswana will continue to guarantee constitutional rights to be informed, to freedom of assembly and expression of opinion.
He called upon the journalism fraternity of the country to avoid indulging in anything that divides society as they go about their duties. Calling upon them to be ethical, he cautioned them against disseminating items that render people asunder. “While in other parts of the world, especially those that experience multiple crises, media freedom, journalist safety, and freedom of expression, as well as other human rights are increasingly under attack. I can confidently say that in Botswana, that has never been the case,” Tsogwane said.
He reminded members of the Fourth Estate that media ethics focus on areas such as impartiality, objectivity, balance, bias, privacy, and public interest, with the overriding principle being public interest. “However, let me hasten to say that while Botswana relatively enjoys freedom of expression, the advent of digital technology and social media platforms have become a challenge owing to the misuse and abuse of these otherwise noble inventions.”