Media Practitioners Act Condemned At Commemoration

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Monday May 10, 2010 00:00

 

Commenting on the infamous Media Practitioners Act ,which was passed by parliament last year, political and media analyst Michael Dingake said the act does not only call for registration of media practitioners but the nation at large as it is not just media practitioners who should have the freedom to express themselves but the general public.

Dingake said curtailment of free flow of information is cancerous in a democracy as the media fraternity through their reports safeguard against corruption and hold those in legislation accountable.

Speaking at the World Press Freedom Day commemoration in Gaborone last Saturday, he said the media is better left to self regulate as having a law in place to govern the way media practitioners function could lead to inefficiency in their execution of information due to fear of the penalties.

Despite the private media's plea that the act is a draconian one and could not do in a democracy government went ahead to enact it.

Moreover, lobby groups believe the media practitioners bill should have been amended particularly the clause that gave the Minister power in the running of the committees as well as power to dissolve the council. Moreover, media practitioners are still required to register and accredit with the council and the journalism profession is still criminalised through stringent fines and imprisonment.

Dingake said the act is uncalled for unless an independent and democratic press ombudsman is established to safeguard freedom of the press and to see to it that freedom of expression is not curtailed.

Furthermore, he lamented the continued abuse of state media by the ruling party in popularising its ideologies to the expense of opposition politics.

Dingake said there should be fairness and balance in political coverage, but as the current situation has not been pleasing as the Botswana Democratic party split away; Barata-Phathi are starved of coverage whilst the populace get to hear the ruling party's side of the story.

Giving a solidarity message, Botsalo Ntuane said their new party, the Botswana Movement for Democratic is mindful of the efficacy of information flow in the promotion of democracy and freedom of information. He said upon commencement of parliament in July their members of parliament would pursue the Freedom of Information Act.

'We the Botswana Movement for Democracy commit to partner with the media fraternity in their quest for a Freedom of Information Act,' he said.