Btv Uses BDP To Stop Constitutional Debate

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Monday December 7, 2009 00:00

Botswana National Front (BNF) activist, Kagiso Ntime said last week that they were shocked during the Matlho-a-Phage programme shoot when they were informed the exercise will be halted because the BDP is missing from action.

'Just a few seconds from starting the debate, with everything done - from make-up right to attaching of mikes on each speaker was done-we were told by a lady claiming to be from Btv management that the programme would not be shot because the BDP was not represented.

She said that her bosses told her that the topic (constitutional review) was too sensitive to be debated without the presence of all political parties,' he said.

Ntime stated that the explanation was baseless, saying that as far as he knows, the Btv debates are prepared well in time and invitations are sent to political parties requesting them to send a representative. He asserted that the fact that the BDP decided to absent itself from the debate should not be used to kill the debate.

'This is unfair. We cannot debate issues on the whims of the BDP. If they choose to stay away like they did, the debates should go on,' he said. He added that as the opposition, they felt disrespected by the government broadcaster, which 'called us here, wasting our valuable time only to tell us that we cannot hold the debate because the BDP is not represented. In the past when a party stayed away debates went on.

Why the change now? We are now beginning to believe that by relocating the government media from the Communications Ministry to Office of the President, the BDP government wanted to directly control and muzzle debate,' he said.

Gaborone Central legislator Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), who was also invited to the debate said that Btv has always been biased towards the ruling party.

He said that the Btv's Matlho-a-Phage programme seems to be run on the whims of the BDP. As far as he is concerned the topic of constitutional review is an issue of national importance that is currently a hot potato in Parliament.

'We don't expect to be told that because the BDP is not attending, the debate will not be held. I remember last time when Mahalapye East legislator, Botlogile Tshireletso was campaigning for the increase of Specially Elected MPs. She was given a platform by the Btv to amplify her message and lobby for support. Now they are telling us the BDP has to be in attendance for us to get the platform. It's so unfair,' he said. 

BDP executive secretary, Dr Comma Serema said they did not send a representative for the debate because the ruling party has not formed an opinion on reviewing the constitution. 'So if we were to send someone, what will he/she talk about? But we did not stop them (Btv) from going ahead with the debate,' said Serema.

When contacted for comment, government broadcasting director Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo said that he was not in a position to respond to the questions as he was outside the country. He referred queries to the Btv general manager Molefhe Sejoe, who could not respond as he was said to be locked in meetings.