Lesotho’s government has issued a circular prohibiting all its ministries, departments, institutions and parastatals from placing advertisements in “Mo-Afrika”, a privately-owned weekly. According to the circular, cabinet arrived at the decision at its caucus meeting on 23 July 1996, after which it issued a directive saying that “no advertising shall be done through Mo-Afrika because […]
Lesotho’s government has issued a circular prohibiting all its
ministries, departments, institutions and parastatals from
placing advertisements in “Mo-Afrika”, a privately-owned weekly.
According to the circular, cabinet arrived at the decision at its
caucus meeting on 23 July 1996, after which it issued a directive
saying that “no advertising shall be done through Mo-Afrika
because of the negative stance this paper has adopted towards the
government.” The circular, dated 5 August, had been signed by the
Government Secretary to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mohlabi
Tsekoa.
Publisher and editor of “Mo-Afrika”, Candi Ramainoane, expressed
surprise at the circular. “This goes to show the government’s
intent to strangle me and the newspaper,” Ramainoane said. He
pointed out that the reason for which the government was
depriving his newspaper of advertisements contravened Lesotho’s
Constitution which says that the citizens of Lesotho should,
without hindrance, enjoy free expression and be able to hold
opinions, negative or otherwise. “To say that my newspaper should
be less critical in order to obtain advertising amounts to
muzzling the press,” he said. Ramainoane added that the
government is the biggest advertiser in Lesotho, and if
newspapers cannot generate enough revenue from them then they are
likely to close.
The Government Secretary, Tsekoa, has admitted to having written
the circular to government principal secretaries. “The copy [of
the circular] which you sent to me with your letter is authentic.
The instruction was given by myself in my capacity as reflected,”
he wrote in a reply to MISA dated 21 August. Tsekoa, however,
added that it is not his government’s “intention to impose
economic censorship on `Mo-Afrika’ or any other newspaper….
However, like any other institution, Government has a right to
choice in terms of advertising.” Tsekoa also said that his
government “has not and does not intend to violate freedom of
expression of any newspaper in Lesotho…”
“Mo-Africa” newspaper was established in 1990 by a group of
journalists within Lesotho. It publishes in Sesotho, the language
of the Basotho, and has a weekly circulation of about 5,000
copies distributed primarily within the capital, Maseru, which
has a population of about 250,000.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
in an even distribution of advertising to all the media in
Lesotho
the press as outlined in the Constitution of Lesotho
Appeals To
Mohlabi Tsekoa
Office of the Government Secretary
PO Box 527
Maseru 100
Lesotho
Tel: +266 316 332 (direct)
Fax: +266 310 444
His Excellency Ntsu Mokhehle
Prime Minister & Minister of Public Service
Prime Minister’s Office
Government Complex
PO Box 391
Maseru 100
Lesotho
Tel: +266 312 994 or 326 328
Pakane Khala
Minister of Information and Broadcasting
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
P.O. Box 36
Maseru, Lesotho
tel: +266 323 561 or 325 317 or 316 244
fax: +266 310 001
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
