State television drops blackout on BDP split

Lekopanye Mooketsi
Correspondent | Monday May 3, 2010 00:00

Matlho-a-phage is a Btv Sunday evening current affairs programme, which discusses local political developments.  Panellists are invited to the studio for the round table discussions. 

When the discussion is about a political party, usually a representative from that organisation is invited to come and be grilled by the panellists who at times include journalists.

Some analysts say due to the recent developments in the BDP, the party is a topical issue which needs to be discussed on Matlho-a-phage. However, the programme has been discussing irrelevant topics, while ignoring the BDP crisis. 

In the past, parties like the Botswana National Front (BNF) have been in the spotlight on the programme.  In last Sunday's programme, BNF publicity secretary, Moeti Mohwasa, was invited to the studio to talk about the instability in that party. 

The panelists grilled Mohwasa about the recent BNF leadership forum which they claimed was poorly attended due to the infighting in the BNF.

At some stage in the past the BNF decided to boycott the programme due to the television's purported bias.But one media observer said there was no need to drag the BNF to Matlho-a-phage last week.  He said what is happening in the BNF is no longer news because everyone knows about it.

To him, the party that should be under the spotlight should be the BDP.  He said the BDP discussion would be relevant because of the split in that party.  

But according to some sources, the Btv management has taken a decision not to drag the BDP to the studio in order to protect the party from negative publicity. 

A source said the Btv management does not want to hear anything about the BDP crisis.

Since infighting broke out in the BDP, Btv has only been covering the party leadership. The television station has been ignoring the Barata-Phathi faction of the BDP, some of whom have decided to form their own breakaway party.  Btv has not been reporting about their activities.

But the television has always been eager to broadcast statements from the leadership, denouncing Barata-Phathi.  Even last week, Btv broadcast a statement by the BDP leader, President Ian Khama. 

Even last year when the BDP factions intensified just before the party congress, the state media did not report about them.  But in the past, the state media has always reported about similar developments in the opposition parties.

Last week, a Btv crew covered a press conference which was addressed by Gomolemo Motswaledi who was announcing his resignation from the BDP.  But the story never made it on the Btv screen.

However, the director of broadcasting services, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo, said he was not going to apologise for not featuring the BDP saga on Matlho-a-phage.  He said this was an editorial decision they have taken. 'We have editorial discretion,' he said.

An agitated Kaboeamodimo said they use their discretion on what to feature on Matlho-a-phage.  He said it seems people from the private media what to tell him how to run the show.

'It is just like if I was to ask you why you did not put a specific title on President Ian Khama's statement,' said an exasperated Kaboeamodimo. 

In the past, Kaboeamodimo said, they have taken a stand not to report on the BDP crisis because former president, Sir Ketumile Masire, was mediating. However, Masire's mediation efforts failed after he was rejected by the BDP leadership. 

Meanwhile, in a new development, Radio Botswana (RB 1) interviewed the publicity secretary of the Barata-Phathi and the new political party, Sidney Pilane on the weekly morning programme. 

Pilane was interviewed on the Masa-a-sele programme about their new party.  This was the first time that he was interviewed by the state media following their break away from the BDP.  The Masa-a-sele presenter later invited callers to express their views about the new political party.

The facilitators of the programme were later called to the Office of the President  over the interview.