Govt to review media law

Gothataone Moeng | Friday November 29, 2013 17:15

 

 He told Parliament yesterday that this time around, the government would consult widely. Aggressively pushed by the then Minister of Communications and Technology Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, the Act was passed on December 28 2008, obviously to limit exposure, especially since there was strong opposition from the media and general public during the drafting and bill stages. Opponents of the law feared it gives government greater control over the media.

Among other things, the law stipulates that no journalist will practice without registration and accreditation from a government-appointed statutory press council. This alone, the opponents argued, gave the state the power to determine who could practice as a journalist in the country.

Yesterday Masisi insisted that government is committed to media development, and is steadfast in its wish for a free and open press. He said that, as the minister responsible for the media, it is hurtful to him that some media continue to violate journalistic principles.

“We have been misled by some in the media, and it breaks my heart as the minister responsible for media development and management that this continues to happen,” he said.  He said government has spent a lot of public money developing expertise in the media, and that the state is therefore committed to the further development of the indigenous media,” he said.

Masisi also committed the government to reviving the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, which Parliament rejected last year when brought to the house by Botswana Congress Party (BCP) President Dumelang Saleshando. At the time, Masisi called the bill “mischievous” and said it was not anchored in the interests of Batswana.  After several promptings by media advocacy groups, Masisi has said the bill will come to the house, although he would not say when.“I want to commit that we did not shy away or are worried or scared of putting across a Freedom of Information Bill.  It will come,” he said yesterday.