Tough new Press law commences in April

The Act provides for the creation of the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), a single regulatory body, which will oversee the communications sector in Botswana. It will also provide for the merging of the National Broadcasting Board (NBB) and the Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) to eliminate duplication.

Before being passed into an Act, the bill caused much controversy both in and outside Parliament, with fears that the law would further entrench government control of government-funded media.