Laws criminalising journalism in Botswana :: Mmegi Online

The Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, Commissioner advocate Pansy Tlakula, in collaboration with Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria held a consultative meeting last year August, in Pretoria, South Africa. On the agenda was dialogue on the decriminalization of laws limiting freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in Southern Africa. MISA director (Botswana chapter) Buyani Zongwane, Press Council of Botswana executive secretary Matshidiso Morewane and Mmegi Staffer OARABILE MOSIKARE represented the country.

From the discussions, it was clear that situation of freedom of expression in Southern African are similar. This is because most of the Southern African countries are former British colonies and when they gained independence, they adopted their respective constitutions from their former colonial masters.

Participants learnt that despite Botswana’s strong democratic credentials, there is little doubt that the media environment in Botswana is not in accordance with international standards for democratic media regulation. The Botswana participants found out that there is limitation to freedom of expression provisions in the Constitution of Botswana.

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