Botswana

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Botswana
105 articles
Link to: Member of Parliament sues Yarona FM for defamation

Member of Parliament sues Yarona FM for defamation

According to media reports, Yarona FM broadcast allegations that the MP was bribed while accompanying the under 23 national football team on a friendly match in China.

Link to: Photojournalists harassed by police

Photojournalists harassed by police

Two photojournalists were arrested and released after “cutting a deal” with a police officer, whereby they were forced to delete pictures depicting police harassment.

Link to: Freelance photojournalist arrested, detained

Freelance photojournalist arrested, detained

Lefoko Mogapaesi was arrested and detained while reporting on a high-profile case.

Link to: Lawsuits against several newspapers withdrawn

Lawsuits against several newspapers withdrawn

The Bakgatla tribe chief withdrew the lawsuits in an out of court settlement.

Link to: MISA concerned over withdrawal of broadcasters’ code of conduct

MISA concerned over withdrawal of broadcasters’ code of conduct

The code of conduct would have gone a long way in enforcing equal coverage of political parties during elections, says MISA.

Link to: Radio station head bans political programmes

Radio station head bans political programmes

The CEO of Gabz FM radio station banned all political broadcasts on the station, reportedly following a complaint from the ruling party.

Link to: MISA concerned about pro-government bias during election coverage

MISA concerned about pro-government bias during election coverage

Opposition parties are increasingly voicing their concern over their exclusion from the state media during a crucial election period.

Link to: Youth league storms TV station

Youth league storms TV station

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Youth League stormed the Botswana Television (BTV) complex in protest against the broadcaster’s refusal to cover the party’s rallies.

Link to: President withdraws suit against newspaper

President withdraws suit against newspaper

President Ian Khama has abandoned plans to sue the “Sunday Standard” newspaper for defamation.

Link to: Reporter under security surveillance

Reporter under security surveillance

Interviewed by MISA Botswana on May 27, Pitse said, “I take extra care to protect my sources as anyone I speak to could be suspected of leaking security information to me.”

Link to: Publishers challenge Media Practitioners Act in court

Publishers challenge Media Practitioners Act in court

(MISA/IFEX) – Botswana publishers, on 6 May 2009, registered a statutory notice with the attorney general and the Ministry of Communications Science and Technology, challenging the Media Practitioners Act of 2008. The step brings to fruition the publishers’ resolution of March 2009 in which they resolved to take the legal route in their quest to […]

Link to: “Politically sensitive” stories removed from university student newspaper

“Politically sensitive” stories removed from university student newspaper

(MISA/IFEX) – Parties involved in the production of “UB Horizon”, a student community newspaper of the University of Botswana, have confirmed to MISA Botswana that at least two articles were removed from the newspaper at the time of printing because they were viewed as “politically sensitive”. The editor of the newspaper, Angela Mdlalani, confirmed to […]

Link to: News media publishers decline invitation to participate in state media council

News media publishers decline invitation to participate in state media council

(MISA/IFEX) – News media publishers gathered on 10 March 2009 and resolved not to respond to the current invitations from the government regarding the formation of the Interim Committee of the Media Council as dictated by the newly enacted Media Practitioners Act. MISA Botswana, which was in attendance and facilitated the meeting, sympathises with the […]

Link to: State-owned media supports controversial Media Practitioners Act

State-owned media supports controversial Media Practitioners Act

(MISA/IFEX) – On 24 February 2009 the “Daily News”, a government newspaper, ran a rebuttal of the Media Practitioners Act petition which was initiated by MISA and signed by various international media and freedom of expression organizations. The front-page story supports the government’s position on the Media Practitioners Act and attacks the petition as, “misunderstanding […]

Link to: Preliminary survey results demonstrate support for press freedom, MISA-Botswana hopes government will realise that recently enacted media law is not in line with popular opinion

Preliminary survey results demonstrate support for press freedom, MISA-Botswana hopes government will realise that recently enacted media law is not in line with popular opinion

(MISA/IFEX) – The preliminary results of an Afro Barometer Survey, released on 20 February 2009, indicate that a majority of people in Botswana support press freedom and critical speech. The survey, conducted by the Department of Political and Administration Studies, Sociology and Statistics at the University of Botswana reveals that “Batswana overwhelmingly showed their support […]

Link to: Government establishes public relations offices to address problem of constricted information flow with media

Government establishes public relations offices to address problem of constricted information flow with media

(MISA/IFEX) – On 27 January 2009 the Botswana government convened a meeting of Public Relations (PR) Officers in government departments to find out why information flow is constricted. This follows complains by the media and civic society that government is increasingly carrying out business in secrecy and that the media was increasingly finding it difficult […]