The state media has been often accused of biased news coverage in favour of the government during the rule of the previous Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) regime. Speaking on behalf of the State President minister, Foreign Affairs minister, Phenyo Butale, admitted that he was aware of the finding of the Ombudsman on the disproportionate state media coverage of the ruling party as to the opposition parties. “It is in that regard that my administration and ministry has publicly stated our intentions to transform the state media into an independent public broadcaster in the spirit of equity and inclusivity amongst others. We, therefore, do not want to be given special treatment at the expense of other political parties, hence, our position to convert the state broadcaster into a public broadcaster,” he told Parliament this week.
Butale was responding to questions from the Member of Parliament for Tswapong South, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, who had asked, among others, when the State media will become a public broadcaster to ensure editorial independence. Butale said his ministry is currently transforming the State media to become a Public Broadcaster with an Autonomous Broadcasting Board. He further revealed that work is in progress, with the Draft Cabinet Memorandum having been developed together with the ITT, which has been developed to engage a Consultant to further the transformation. He said they have held discussions with MISA and the Editors Forum and set a deadline at the end of March for involved parties to look at the Draft Cabinet Memo. “We want their contributions so that we can look at where to change and the international standards when it comes to public broadcasters and the colonial era style of state media,” he said. Furthermore, he said a consultant will be hired to handle the issue going forward.
