The Media Practitioners Bill Number 15 was gazetted on 27 June 2008. The Bill seeks to govern the operations and general conduct of the media through the proposed establishment of a Press Council. In addition, the Press Council will also ensure the "maintenance of high professional standards" within the media sector and provide for the registration and accreditation of media practitioners resident in Botswana. According to media reports, there are concerns that the government has not adequately taken into account the views raised by stakeholders during the consultation process. Some of the other widely expressed concerns include the fact that the media practitioners would like a situation where they are able to regulate themselves based on the framework of the bill as opposed to a scenario where the government through the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology is vested with the responsibility of appointing committees.
A further concern is that the guiding principles, which both the government and the media practitioners earlier agreed to as the basis for the bill have not been fully incorporated. Ditshwanelo urges the government of Botswana to incorporate the input of the media in the bill. We encourage further consultation with the government, all media organizations and interested stakeholders in order to work in collaboration with them to provide an environment in which freedom of expression, as enshrined in the constitution of Botswana (section 12 is upheld and respected. We also note that the right to freedom of expression, which is fundamental to the work of the media, is provided for in international human rights instruments such as the international covenant on civil and political rights (Articles 19, 21, 22) and the African charter on human and peoples rights (articles 9,10,11) to both of which Botswana is a party.
