After a hotly contested election, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana Chapter yesterday ushered in a new leadership. MISA Botswana members elected their new board of trustees on Saturday in Gaborone. The elections were postponed last year September amid chaotic scenes. Leading up to the initial set date for the elective Annual General Meeting (AGM), there were two main camps competing for the positions, but on the day of the election last year, one of the contestants was disqualified on account of political affiliation.
According to the MISA election regulations, politically active persons are prohibited from holding positions within the MISA committee and structure as this is deemed to potentially compromise the integrity of the institution. This led to the postponement of the election to allow the two camps to reconfigure themselves. Yesterday, speaking at the event, outgoing chairperson Mboki Chilisa thanked the contestants for showing eagerness to be part of MISA and urged the elected members of the board of trustees to continue advocating media freedoms and free speech.
For his part, the newly elected board chairman, Thomas Nkhoma thanked the media fraternity for entrusting him with the leadership of MISA. Nkhoma promised the media professionals that together with his team, they will work towards ensuring that advocacy for media continues to be upheld.
The new board of trustee members are:
Thomas Nkhoma – Chairperson Tshireletso Stoffel- Vice Chairperson Victor Baatweng- Secretary Tsaone Basimanebotlhe- Treasurer
Additional members Sharon Mathala Nicholas Mokwena Bakang Tiro Ketumile Ramatiti Aubrey Maswabi
