State media will not be regulated

ROGERS MPHANE
Correspondent | Thursday November 24, 2011 00:00

 

If passed, it will repeal the National Broadcasting Act, which presently licenses public and private broadcasting activities, as well as the Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) Act. Speaking at the opening of a two-day broadcasting conference recently, the chairperson of National Broadcasting Board (NBB) Dr Masego Mpotokwane said regulating the state media had been a challenge as the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS), which houses the two government controlled radio stations, Radio Botswana 1 and 2, as well as the Botswana Television (Btv), is not only supervised through the Broadcasting Act but through the Public Service Act.

The NBB which will be dissolved by the new law if passed was condemned for failing to regulate state media, particularly during election time. Opposition parties complained that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) abused the state media to their disadvantage.

In an interview, Executive Director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) - Botswana Chapter, Phenyo Butale said he was concerned that the Bill does not include state media for purposes of licensing and regulation.

He said the country is moving backward; the public has always complained that the state media gives too much coverage to the ruling party, thereby disadvantaging the opposition.

Butale said during the recent public sector strike the state media gave extensive coverage to the government side of the story as opposed to the unions.

On the limiting of broadcasting services, Butale said there must be plurality in the media industry; different players in the media provide for an inclusive society, he said.

Butale said the minister must not interfere with the Board because his/her power to overturn Board decisions may compromise its independence.

Dick Bayford, a media activist who is also a human rights lawyer, said the Bill is bad for the development of press freedom. He said the Bill has provisions that are serious and undesirable as they curtail freedom of the press.

'The government has been embarking on processes that are designed to curtail freedom of the press and freedom of speech,' he said.

He said the Bill adds insult to injury caused by the Media Practitioners Act, which is now being challenged in the courts. 'It's high time government removes the doubt surrounding its democratic credentials,' he warned.

According to the Bill, the Authority has powers to limit the number of licenses that may be issued and provide reasons for that.  Section 44 (2) reads, ' the Authority shall not less than three months before doing so, or not less than three months before the expiry of any license issued in terms of this Act publish in the Gazette, its decision to limit the number of licenses which it will issue in respect of any particular type of telecommunication service'.

The minister appoints the chief executive of the authority and members of the board; he also has the power to rescind the decisions that have been taken by the authority if it appears to him/her that the security of Botswana is threatened. (Sila Press Agency)