BNF Activist Threatens To Sue Btv

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday March 29, 2010 00:00

 

They should allocate him a slot on Botswana Television (Btv) and Radio Botswana (RB), to articulate BNF issues just like what they have been doing for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).  Kanjabanga has threatened that if the director did not comply with, he would sue the department.

He delivered a letter to the Department of Broadcasting Services, setting out his demands on Friday.

'Please be also advised that should you refuse my request I will have to option but to seek legal recourse in which I will ask the court to order you to give me television and radio coverage,' he said.

Kanjabanga's bone of contention is that since infighting broke out in the BDP, the dominant faction, being the A-team, is being given massive coverage by the state broadcasting services.

'So given that you seem to be generously giving the BDP and its members a chance to deal with its internal party problems on television and radio, I therefore, as a Motswana and member of the main opposition party, the BNF, request to be given a chance to address BNF members through radio and television on how to deal with factional problems that also affect our party,' asserts Kanjabanga.   

'I don't think that Radio Botswana and Btv belong to the BDP and its members, they belong to Batswana as a whole and, therefore, if they are to be used by political parties they should be used by all Botswana political parties. The government media institutions do not belong to Rre Khama or Rre Masire, they belong to all Batswana,' he charged.

'You will recall that just like the BDP, my party, the BNF, is also affected by factions and it is desirous for one to address members about factionalism and how to deal with the issue, just like Rre Masire did.  You will also note that this is very important to us more especially that the BNF is to hold its congress in July 2010.  I would also like to appeal to BNF members to exercise restrain, calm and possibly engage in dialogue and mediation of their factional differences.'

When contacted, the Director of Broadcasting Services, Kaboeamodimo said he was not aware of Kanjabanga's letter.  He said he could not speculate on whether political activists would be allowed to make statements on Btv and the state radio.

Meanwhile, Kaboeamodimo has vehemently denied that they are taking sides in the ongoing battle by not starving Barata-Phathi of coverage. Of late both Btv and state radio stations have only been reporting about the views of the A-Team dominated BDP central committee.

Kaboeamodimo said members of Barata-Phathi have never approached them, seeking state media coverage.On why they did not cover the Barata-Phathi meeting in Mogoditshane at which it was proposed to form a new party, Kaboeamodimo said they were engaged with other activities on that day. He said they did not boycott the Barata-Phathi event.

However, he said, they have taken an editorial decision not to continue covering the BDP debacle because former president Sir Masire has since called for reconciliation. He said they are 'not going to interview members of the two factions for the time being'.