BCP decries RB disregard ahead of debates
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday August 12, 2014 13:44
This follows after the BCP requested information on the topics that will be discussed and how the debates will be conducted.
Their efforts to correspond with the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo, did not bear any fruit.
The BCP chairperson, Motsei Rapelana, stated yesterday that their calls for involvement have not been reciprocated.
In a letter dated July 8, 2014, addressed to Kaboeamodimo, BCP requested for a stakeholder meeting in which logistics and other details would be discussed.
“We had indicated that to best prepare for the debates we wished to agree on the rules of engagement and discuss among other things, the schedule, structure of the debate, issues to be covered, audience participation and the venues,” Rapelana said.
She stated they never received a formal response, save for a late commitment to a meeting slated for August 5, 2014, of which was subsequently cancelled with further attempts to reschedule failing.
She added that they believe that editorial houses should have their independence, however, it is well documented that the ruling party has always and continues to interfere with the editorial independence of the state media.
She said her party had made formal complaints against the same media house in the past and was at one point successful before the National Broadcasting Board adjudication.
“This therefore informs our cautionary attitude towards the forthcoming debates. We are, however, not in any way intending to stay away from the debates as we believe Batswana deserve every opportunity to hear out their representatives,” she said.
However, Kaboeamodimo claimed that they have in fact corresponded with all three political parties contesting in the October elections.
“We have provided them all with the schedule of the debates as well as arragments for public attendance at the debates,” said Kaboeamodimo.
He said that they have provided the BCP with topics for discussion, the dates, times and venues, but admitted that, “The one thing we were not able to do was a stakeholders meeting that the BCP requested and this is because we could not find a time convenient for both sides”.